Abstract
The following article debates on the properties of cellulose-filled ethylene-norbornene copolymer (EN) composites. Natural fibers employed in this study have been modified via two different approaches: solvent-involving (S) and newly developed non-solvent (NS). The second type of the treatment is fully eco-friendly and was carried out in the planetary mill without incorporation of any additional, waste-generating substances. Composite samples have been investigated with the use of spectroscopic methods (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), static mechanical analysis, and surface-free energy measurements. It has been proved that the possible filler-polymer matrix interaction changes may occur due to the performed modifications. The highest reinforcement was evidenced for the composite sample filled with cellulose treated via a NS approach—TS = (34 ± 2) MPa, Eb = (380 ± 20)%. Additionally, a surface free energy polar part exhibited a significant increase for the same type of modification. Consequently, this could indicate easier wetting of the material which may contribute to the degradation process enhancement. Successfully developed cellulose-filled ethylene-norbornene copolymer composite compromises the rules of green chemistry and sustainable development by taking an advantage of renewable natural resources. This bio-inspired material may become an eco-friendly alternative for commonly used polymer blends.
Highlights
Nowadays, various fillers are employed in polymer industry in order to control the properties of a composite material, e.g., mechanical reinforcing [1,2,3], increasing thermal resistance [4,5], adjusting processing properties [6,7], creation of electrically conductive [8,9] or flame-retardant [10,11]polymer blends
Full list of absorption bands assigned to the appropriate chemical groups visible in the cellulose-filled ethylene norbornene copolymer composite structure is presented in with untreated cellulose fibers (4000–400 cm ) (a) and its magnification (1800–400 cm absorption bands: C–H stretching (2915 cm−1, 2848 cm−1 ),−1C-H bending vibrations (1463 cm−1 ), C–O
Comparing the data presented in this article (Table 5), it may be concluded that more significant changes upon cellulose polymer composite properties occur while the non-solvent cellulose modification process is employed in order to hydrophobize the bio-filler
Summary
Various fillers are employed in polymer industry in order to control the properties of a composite material, e.g., mechanical reinforcing [1,2,3], increasing thermal resistance [4,5], adjusting processing properties [6,7], creation of electrically conductive [8,9] or flame-retardant [10,11]polymer blends. In recent years, a new filler group, which may revolutionize plastic industry, has risen It is created by substances derived from the natural environment, renewable feedstock or biomass, e.g., cellulose [12,13,14], lignocellulose [15,16], silicates [17,18]. They may influence the mechanical, thermal, or processing properties of a polymer composite, and they could contribute to the creation of a new generation of materials which are less harmful to the environment [19,20,21,22,23]. This could be achieved by exchanging some synthetic, non-biodegradable polymer composite components with their natural analogues [24,25]
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