Abstract
Cellulose nanofibers were obtained from the Colombian fique (Furcraea bedinghausii) and Acrylic hydrogels (H) and reinforced acrylic hydrogels with fique nanofibres (HRFN) were synthesized, using the solution polymerization method. The extraction was carried out using a combined extraction method (chemical procedures and ultrasound radiation). The raw material (NAT-F), bleached fibers (B-F), hydrolyzed fibers and fibers treated with ultrasound (US-F) were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal stability analysis; also, in order to have a comparison criterion, a commercial microcrystalline cellulose sample (CC) was analyzed, which demonstrated the extraction of fique cellulose. The surface morphology of the NAT-F and the B-F was determined by scanning electron microscopy and the average particle size of the nanofibers was made through transmission electron microscopy. In H y HRFN the strain percent and compression resistance (Rc) were measured. The fique nanofibers showed diameter and length averages of 25.2 ± 6.2 nm and 483.8 ± 283.2 nm respectively. Maximum degradation temperature was 317 °C. HRFN presented higher compression resistance (16.39 ± 4.30 kPa) and this resistance was 2.5 greater than the resistance of H (6.49 ± 2.48 kPa). The results indicate that fique lignocellulosic matrix has potential application for obtaining polymeric type composite materials.
Highlights
Hydrogels are polymers with a crisscrossed three-dimensional structure which allows to absorb, store and release water molecules[1]
The fique agribusiness in Colombia focuses on the production of fibers[27], the fibers represent only 4% of the leaves, the remaining 96% corresponds to waste generated in the process, such as juice (70%) bagasse or cabuyasa (30%)[27,28]
The fiber bleaching process was efficient as it managed to eliminate more than 80% of the lignin present in NAT-F
Summary
Hydrogels are polymers with a crisscrossed three-dimensional structure which allows to absorb, store and release water molecules[1]. Several studies show that the addition of cotton n anofibers9,20, chitosan21, wood[10,12,22] into acrylic base hydrogels, increases, mechanical strength and swelling capacity due to increased surface area, elastic character of fibers and the presence of hydroxyl groups within the polymer matrix[22,23,24]. To break the amorphous region of the chains and isolate cellulose nanofibers, several methods have been used since 2008 including acid hydrolysis, enzyme processes, oxidation, high-pressure homogenization, high-intensity ultrasound and steam blasting p rocesses[32]. In the isolation of nanofibers the use of concentrated chemicals or mechanical methods for long periods of time degrade cellulose decreasing the degree of polymerization of c hains[34]. Fibers and nanofibers study was made using infrared analysis (FITR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); the strain and resistance to compression of the reinforced hiydrogels are discussed
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