Abstract
Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was successfully grafted onto cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) at room temperature in an emulsion system using a diethyl(1,10-phenanthroline N1,N10)zinc(II) complex (Phen-DEZ) with oxygen as the radical initiator. The effects of reaction temperature, initiator concentration, and monomer content on the grafting reaction were investigated. The molecular weight of the non-grafted PMMA, which was produced during graft polymerization, was more than 1 million, as determined by size exclusion chromatography. The PMMA-grafted CNFs were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy, which confirmed the grafting of PMMA on the nanofiber surface. The study presents a strategy for the grafting of high-molecular weight PMMA onto CNFs in an emulsion system using Phen-DEZ and O2.
Highlights
Cellulose, a polysaccharide, is the main structural component of the cell walls of many plants and is used in a variety of applications as an organic material present in abundance on Earth
The PMMA-grafted cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy, which confirmed the grafting of PMMA on the nanofiber surface
We report the graft polymerization of Methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto CNFs in an emulsion system using Phen-DEZ as an initiator
Summary
A polysaccharide, is the main structural component of the cell walls of many plants and is used in a variety of applications as an organic material present in abundance on Earth. Cellulose is synthesized by terrestrial plants, and by marine and aquatic algae as well as bacteria such as acetic acid bacteria. Cellulose is a homopolymer composed of D-glucose molecules linearly linked by β-(1,4) glycoside linkages. It is an environmentally benign material that is a constituent of dietary fiber and is used to produce a wide variety of products such as regenerated fiber, composites [1] [2] [3] and bioethanol
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