Abstract
Nanofibrillated bacterial cellulose (NFBC) produced in the presence of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) (HP-NFBC) is amphiphilic and has a very long fiber length (>15 μm). In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL)-grafted HP-NFBC (HPNFBC-g-PCL) was prepared via ring-opening polymerization from the hydroxy groups on the HP-NFBC surface as initiation sites. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites containing PCL homopolymer and HPNFBC-g-PCL were investigated. The nanocomposite with 13 wt% cellulose was the stiffest film with the highest ultimate strength and Young’s modulus of 57.3 and 661.3 MPa, respectively. HP-NFBCs grafted with PCL of different molecular weights (20, 15, and 9 k) were also prepared to study the effect of the graft length on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Grafting HP-NFBC with a higher molecular weight (20 k) PCL led to an enhanced ultimate strength and Young’s modulus. These results suggest that HP-NFBC can serve as an excellent reinforcement material.
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