Synthesis and characterization of cellulose nanocrystals as reinforcing agent in solely palm based polyurethane foam

Athanasia Amanda Septevani,Darren J Martin,Pratheep K Annamalai

doi:10.1063/1.5011899

Athanasia Amanda Septevani, Darren J Martin + Show 1 more

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5011899

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Abstract

The increasing awareness of the environment and the economy of petroleum resources has driven the development of alternative processes and raw materials based on sustainable and renewable biomaterials with excellent properties. This study is aimed to use biologically renewable cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as reinforcing agent to enhance the properties of polyurethane foams (PUF) based on solely palm-polyol. Rod-like shape cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) was successfully isolated from cotton based resources via strong acid hydrolysis with the average width, length and aspect ratio about 14.7 ± 4.9 nm, 167.7 ± 23.2 nm and 11.4, respectively. The crystallinity of CNC was confirmed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and was found at 82.8% and 83.8%, respectively. This obtained cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) at a loading of 0.4 wt. % was then incorporated via solvent-free sonication method in the model of palm based polyurethane foam. The preliminary results showed that the effect of CNC on the mechanical properties afforded a significant improvement on the compressive strength and modulus without affecting much their tensile strength. The results on thermal stability and thermal transitions were found unchanged whereas the storage modulus revealed substantial improvement with the presence of CNC with almost two fold from 0.7 MPa to 1.3 MPa (∼86 %).

Highlights

Cellulose, a carbohydrate with linear chain of glucose molecule, is the most abundant polymers in nature
It can be seen that obtained cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are typically rod-like shape with the average width, length and aspect ratio about 14.7 ± 4.9 nm, 167.7 ± 23.2 nm and 11.4, respectively
This value is in agreement with the reported values of cotton CNC obtained via sulfuric acid hydrolysis.[9,10,11]

Summary

Introduction

A carbohydrate with linear chain of glucose molecule, is the most abundant polymers in nature. It can be found in plant sources such as wood and plant (cotton, ramie, hemp, straw, wheat) and in non-plant sources such as tunicate (family of sea animals), algae, and bacteria.[1,2] Recently, the use of nanocellulose as reinforcing agent in various polymer matrices have gained growing interest as a new class of cellulose based “building block” due to chemically active hydroxyl groups on the surface, low density and in addition to their abundance. Polyurethane is one of the most versatile polymers because of its wide range products (in the form of foams, coatings, and thermoplastics) and applications Owing to their versatility and vast array of monomer variables, the range of properties for many engineering applications can be achieved. With increasing awareness of the environment and the economy of petroleum resources, it has become important to look for alternative processes and raw materials for achieving good performance PUF from the renewable resources

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