Abstract
Cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) were chemically modified with dodecenyl succinic anhydride to obtain hydrophobic CNWs called DCNWs. Surface modification was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The surface substitution degree determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was 0.30. Nanocomposites were prepared by incorporating different amounts of DCNWs pre-dispersed in a small amount of acetone into an epoxy matrix. Scanning electron microscope demonstrated that DCNWs dispersed well in the epoxy matrix. A strong interaction was proved between the DCNWs and epoxy matrix, as results of which the nanocomposites exhibited an obvious increase in Tg by about 30 °C, simultaneous increases in tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and strain at break; and an improvement in the hydrothermal properties. Compared with the neat epoxy, the nanocomposite containing 3.5 wt% of DCNWs exhibited an increase in tensile strength by 82 %, Young’s modulus by 21 %, and a strain at break by 198 %.
Published Version
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