Abstract
Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as a bio-based reinforcement has attracted tremendous interests in engineering polymer composites. This study developed a sustainable approach to reinforce polyamide-6 or nylon-6 (PA6) with CNFs through solvent casting in formic acid/water mixtures. The methodology provides an energy-efficient pathway towards well-dispersed high-CNF content PA6 biocomposites. Nanocomposite formulations up to 50 wt.% of CNFs were prepared, and excellent improvements in the tensile properties were observed, with an increase in the elastic modulus from 1.5 to 4.2 GPa, and in the tensile strength from 46.3 to 124 MPa. The experimental tensile values were compared with the analytical values obtained by micromechanical models. Fractured surfaces were observed using scanning electron microscopy to examine the interface morphology. FTIR revealed strong hydrogen bonding at the interface, and the thermal parameters were determined using TGA and DSC, where the nanocomposites’ crystallinity tended to reduce with the increase in the CNF content. In addition, nanocomposites showed good thermomechanical stability for all formulations. Overall, this work provides a facile fabrication pathway for high-CNF content nanocomposites of PA6 for high-performance and advanced material applications.
Highlights
Plant-based reinforcement is attractive for enhancing the mechanical properties of polymers in the context of biodegradable and sustainable materials [1]
This study developed a green solvent casting system based on water and formic acid to produce highCNF content polyamide-6 or nylon-6 (PA6) nanocomposites
The PA6 and Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) nanocomposite films produced via solvent casting had a good dispersion and distribution for all formulations, which was evident from the uniform translucency observed throughout the films
Summary
Plant-based reinforcement is attractive for enhancing the mechanical properties of polymers in the context of biodegradable and sustainable materials [1]. The reinforcing effect of plant-based fibers originates from the highly crystalline cellulose hierarchical structure. Cellulose is both of a renewable origin and biodegradable [2]. Among the plant-based nanocelluloses, there are two major categories: cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs). CNCs are highly crystalline, needle-like structures, with a few hundred nanometers in length and a few nanometers in width [4]. The linearity of cellulose polymer chains and their strong intermolecular bonds enables the formation of ordered crystalline structures, which impart exceptional mechanical properties to CNFs [6].
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