Cellulose Nanofiber Composites Research Articles

Preparation of tannic acid-reinforced cellulose nanofiber composites for all-water-based high-performance wood adhesives

Traditional adhesives easily release toxic gases during the preparation process or apply to wood composite products, which have adverse effects on the human body and the environment. Herein, an all-water-based high-performance wood adhesive is prepared using TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber (TOCNF), acrylamide (AM), and tannic acid (TA) through free radical polymerization. Different characteristics of the prepared composites, including morphology, injectability, and adhesion properties, have been investigated. Results showed that the TA/TOCNF/PAM composite has excellent injectability. The addition of TA can enhance the lap shear strength of the TA/TOCNF/PAM composites and with the increment of TA content, the lap shear strength gradually decreases. The formation of effective hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals interaction among the rich functional groups in the composite, lead to strong lap shear strength on different substrates. The composite with 5.0 g of AM, 5.0 g of the TOCNF suspension and 0.1 g TA possesses a high lap shear strength of 10.5 MPa on wood and 1.5 MPa on aluminium. Based on strong adhesion properties and excellent injectability, the TA/TOCNF/PAM composites have great potential in the furniture construction and building industries.

Synthesis and characterization of zinc ion-integrated quercetin delivery system using areca nut seeds nanocellulose

This research introduces an innovative approach utilizing waste-derived cellulose from areca nut seeds. A novel quercetin-loaded cellulose nanofiber (CNF-Zn-QT) composite was synthesized by integrating zinc ions into a cellulose nanofiber-quercetin complex. With a high loading capacity (17.48%) and encapsulation efficiency (90.42%), the optimized CNF-Zn-QT composite exhibited superior antioxidant activity against DPPH and ABTS+ radicals compared to quercetin alone. Furthermore, the CNF-Zn-QT composite demonstrated a slower in vitro release rate of quercetin, indicating its potential for sustained release applications. Notably, the composite also displayed enhanced antibacterial properties, attributed to the antibacterial nature of zinc ions. In terms of storage, the CNF-Zn-QT composite outperformed the CNF-QT composite in stability, underscoring its promise for long-term applications. This research not only offers a novel perspective on the utilization of areca nut seeds waste but also emphasizes the multifunctional capabilities of the CNF-Zn-QT composite, making it a promising candidate for various applications, including antioxidant and antibacterial products, controlled release systems, and stable storage solutions.

Solvent-induced micro-morphological structure strategy regulating the interfacial mechanism of carbon fiber reinforced composites

Current research on cellulose nanofiber (CNF) in the field of mechanical properties mainly involves the direct application of CNF and simple composites with other materials. The relationship between the morphology and structure of CNF-based materials and the target functions of composites has rarely been explored. Here, as an example of carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRP), CNF-based organic coating with different micromorphological structures was fabricated on the surface of carbon fiber (CF) by regulating the solvent ratio of binary solvents (deionized water/ethanol). The trends of their chemical components and microstructures were investigated, as well as their effects on the interfacial bonding performance of CFRP. The results indicated that an increase in the ratio of deionized water in the binary solvent led to a smaller raised structure with poor adhesion and an increase in coating uniformity on the organic coating, which would directly affect the tensile strength (TS) of the CF and the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of CFRP. This research presents important insights into the mechanism of composite interfaces based on the differences in the micro-morphological structures of materials.

Direct current conductance and 1/f-noise in cellulose nanofiber–multi-walled carbon nanotube composites for applications in flexible electronic devices

We report on the studies of conduction mechanism, direct current conductance, and 1f-noise of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites. The composites were characterized by x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The temperature- and voltage-dependence of the dc conductance Σ were, respectively, probed to investigate the charge transport mechanism and the electrical response of the composite. At room temperature, the increase in Σ with wt. % of MWCNT ϕ showed typical percolation behavior. The Σ−T behavior was fitted to the combination of one-dimensional variable range hopping and the fluctuation-induced tunneling, which were attributed to hopping of charge carriers through 1D MWCNTs and the tunneling of charge carriers between the bundles of MWCNTs, respectively. The non-Ohmic electrical conduction was characterized by the onset voltage V0(T) which scaled with Ohmic conductance Σ0 as V0(T)∼Σ0(T)xT, with xT being the onset exponent increased with ϕ. A scaling description based on the data collapse method was adopted to find the parameters V0(T) and xT. The noise power spectrum SV(f) followed the relation SV(f)∼Vβ with two different power-laws: β1 in the Ohmic and β2 in the non-Ohmic region (β1>β2). Interestingly, this change in power-laws occurs at the same V0(T) obtained from Σ−V curves. A simple model was proposed to explain the noise behavior after V0(T). It is expected that such electrical characterization of CNF-MWCNT nanopaper composite would open up their possibility of application in flexible electronic devices, intelligent networks, sensors, and actuators.

One-step wet-spinning of conducting polymer and cellulose nanofiber composites for fiber-type organic electrochemical transistors

Considering that textile-based sensors are suitable for monitoring/communicating human vital health information, organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are considered as an efficient device platform for augmenting the capabilities and effectiveness of smart textile applications in diverse areas. Herein, we investigated the fabrication process and properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber (CNF) composites as active channel materials for fiber-type OECTs. Utilizing highly crystalline, mechanically rigid, and chemically robust CNFs directly extracted from biomass-derived tunicate, we fabricated PEDOT:PSS-CNF composite fibers with varying CNF portions (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 %) through a simple one-step wet-spinning process using sulfuric acid-based coagulation media. The addition of CNFs significantly improved the mechanical strength of the composite fibers with Young's modulus up to 13.4 ± 2.1 GPa. Moreover, the fiber-type OECT devices based on the PEDOT:PSS(80 %)-CNF(20 %) composite showed highest carrier mobility (4.0 ± 0.2 cm2 V−1 s−1) with the marginal trade-off in volumetric capacitance (57.1 ± 3.7 F/cm3), resulting in the decent benchmark performance parameter (μ·C*) of 229 F cm−1 V−1 s−1. Our findings suggest that the synergistic interaction between PEDOT:PSS and CNFs leads to a significant improvement in fiber properties, and the resulting composite fibers hold great potentials for use in eco-friendly wearable/textile electronics.

Flexible quasi-solid-state supercapacitors for anti-freezing power sources based on polypyrrole@cation-grafted bacterial cellulose

Polypyrrole (PPy)/cellulose nanofiber (CNF) composites have been widely used in flexible energy storage devices because of their lightweight, inherent mechanical flexibility and large specific surface area. However, it is still a challenge to obtain PPy/CNF composite electrodes with high cycling stability. Herein, an electrostatic self-assembly strategy was adopted to deposit anion-doped PPy onto cationic poly(methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride)-grafted bacterial cellulose (BCD) nanofibers. The optimized PPy@BCD electrode demonstrated a high areal capacitance of 6208 mF cm−2 at a current density of 0.5 mA cm−2 and superior cycling stability (a capacitance retention of 100 % after 10,000 charge-discharge cycles at 10 mA cm−2). A quasi-solid-state anti-freezing flexible supercapacitor (AF-FSC) was designed by employing polyacrylamide organohydrogel electrolyte, yielding an areal capacitance of 2930.6 mF cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2 and a capacitance retention of 92.2 % after 1000 cycles at −20 °C. The present AF-FSC is expected to serve as a power source in real-life low-temperature applications.

Optimized PCL/CNF bio-nanocomposites for medical bio-plotted applications: Rheological, structural, and thermomechanical aspects

The use of bioabsorbable and biodegradable composites in the medical field has experienced significant growth. Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) have been employed to reinforce medical-grade poly[ε-caprolactone], enhancing both its load-bearing capacity and stiffness compared to pure polycaprolactone PCL. The manufacturing process involved a series of steps applied to five different grades of PCL/CNF filaments. Initially, melt extrusion and pelletization were performed on the filament, followed by 3D bioplotting to create the specimens. The influence of CNF reinforcement on poly[ε-caprolactone] was evaluated through a range of tests, including rheological, thermomechanical, and in situ micromechanical assessments. To further characterize the samples, Micro-Computed Tomography and Scanning Electron Microscopy fractography were employed for the microstructural and morphological analyses, respectively. The mechanical properties of poly[ε-caprolactone]/CNF composites with 6 wt % CNF content exhibited a 23.8% increase in tensile strength and a 19.1% increase in flexural strength compared to the pure matrix, while also displaying minimal porosity.

Preparation and environmental analysis of biodegradable polylactic acid and modified cellulose nanofiber composites

Polylactic acid (PLA) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) show promise as bio-based alternatives to non-degradable plastics, which pose environmental challenges. Yet, CNFs' hydrophilicity hampers their dispersion in hydrophobic PLA. This study modifies CNF surfaces with diisocyanate compounds to create hydrophobic isocyanate-modified CNFs (mCNFs), enhancing their compatibility with PLA. One isocyanate of the diisocyanate compound is grafted onto the surface of CNF and the isocyanate content varied by adjusting grafting reaction time. PLA-mCNF composites are produced by a twin-screw extruder and show improved mechanical properties and biodegradability compared to pristine PLA and PLA-unmodified CNF composite. The environmental impacts of PLA-mCNF composites are evaluated using a life-cycle assessment method and compared to corn grain-based PLA. The optimized PLA-mCNF composite (6 h of grafting reaction) has lower environmental impacts than corn grain-based PLA, with global warming and fossil resource scarcity of 3.021 kg eq and 0.813 kg oil eq, respectively. This study underscores the feasibility of optimizing PLA composite properties by employing a small proportion of toxic diisocyanate on CNF surfaces. The findings highlight the potential of such modified composites to offer improved sustainability and performance characteristics, contributing to the development of eco-friendly materials.

Multi-functional and integrated actuator based on carbon nanotube–cellulose nanofiber composites

Multi-functional and integrated actuator based on carbon nanotube–cellulose nanofiber composites

Modification of Flexible Electrodes for P-Type (Nickel Oxide) Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance Based on the Cellulose Nanofiber Film.

The preparation of flexible electrode, including working electrode (WE) and counter electrode (CE), for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) utilizing metal oxides using environmentally friendly sustainable TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNFs) is reported in this work. A new type of flexible electrode for the DSSCs, which were made of cellulose nanofiber composites with nickel hydroxide [CNF/Ni(OH)2] substrate films and cellulose nanofiber composites with polypyrrole (CNF/PPY). Nickel hydroxide, Ni(OH)2, has been prepared hydrothermally in the presence of TOCNFs, [TOCNF@Ni(OH)2]. Similarly, the conductive polymer substrate has also been prepared from a composite consisting of TOCNF and PPY, TOCNF@ PPY film, by means of polymerization for the CE. Overall, the prepared electrodes both WE from CNF/Ni(OH)2 substrates and CE from the TOCNF@PPY substrate film were revealed as the novelty of this work and which no one has introduced previously. Although NiO nanoparticles (NPs) coated on the Ni(OH)2/TOCNF electrode also produced a good power conversion efficiency, PCE (0.75%); nevertheless, the NiO NP treatment with carbon dots boosted the efficiency up to 1.3%.

Polypyrrole nanotube derived flame-retardant substrate of cellulose nanofiber composites with thermal conductive and electromagnetic interference shielding effect

In this work, the substrate of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) with polypyrrole (PPy) nanotube (PNT) composite (named as SF/PNT) membranes were prepared using vacuum filtration, which provided effective network for conducting electron and heat, simultaneously endowing the membranes with excellent thermal conductive performance and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE, 34.2 dB). Meanwhile, the SF/PNT composite membranes showed the electrical conductivity around 613 S/m, which also presented certain mechanical properties, with the latent heat of 155.2 J/g. In particular, the presence of Mg(OH)2 and PNT network contributed remarkable anti-dripping performance and flame-retardant properties to the membranes during combustion. The provided novel SF/PNT composites indicated promise for a wide variety of applications in thermal energy storage, battery thermal management system, microelectronic packaging and smart buildings.

Electrochemical monitoring of 4-chlorophenol as a water pollutant via carbon paste electrode amplified with Fe3O4 incorporated cellulose nanofibers (CNF)

A crucial problem that needs to be resolved is the sensitive and selective monitoring of chlorophenol compounds, especifically 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), one of the most frequently used organic industrial chemicals. In light of this, the goal of this study was to synthesize Fe3O4 incorporated cellulose nanofiber composite (Fe3O4/CNF) as an amplifier in the development of a modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) for 4-CP detection. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to evaluate the morphology of the synthesized nanocatalyst, while differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) techniques were implemented to illuminate the electrochemical characteristics of the fabricated sensor. The ultimate electrochemical sensor (Fe3O4/CNF/CPE) was used as a potent electrochemical sensor for monitoring 4-CP in the concentration range of 1.0 nM–170 μM with a limit of detection value of 0.5 nM. As a result of optimization studies, 8.0 mg Fe3O4/CNF was found to be the ideal catalyst concentration, whereas pH = 6.0 was chosen as the ideal pH. The 4-CP's oxidation current was found to be over 1.67 times greater at ideal operating conditions than it was at the surface of bare CPE, and its oxidation potential decreased by about 120 mV. By using the standard addition procedure on samples of drinking water and wastewater, the suggested capability of Fe3O4/CNF/CPE to detect 4-CP was further investigated. The recovery range was found to be 98.52–103.66%. This study paves the way for the customization of advanced nanostructure for the application in electrochemical sensors resulting in beneficial environmental impact and enhancing human health.

Green and Sustainable Hot Melt Adhesive (HMA) Based on Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and Silanized Cellulose Nanofibers (SCNFs)

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), with a long chain length and high poly(4-hydroxybutyric acid) (P4HB) ratio, can be used as a base polymer for eco-friendly and biodegradable adhesives owing to its high elasticity, elongation at break, flexibility, and processability; however, its molecular structures must be adjusted for adhesive applications. In this study, surface-modified cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were used as a hydrophobic additive for the PHA-based adhesive. For the surface modification of CNFs, double silanization using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) was performed, and the thermal and structural properties were evaluated. The hydrophobicity of the TEOS- and MTMS-treated CNFs (TMCNFs) was confirmed by FT-IR and water contact angle analysis, with hydrophobic CNFs well dispersed in the PHA. The PHA-CNFs composite was prepared with TMCNFs, and its morphological analysis verified the good dispersion of TMCNFs in the PHA. The tensile strength of the composite was enhanced when 10% TMCNFs were added; however, the viscosity decreased as the TMCNFs acted as a thixotropic agent. Adding TMCNFs to PHA enhanced the flowability and infiltration ability of the PHA-TMCNFs-based adhesive, and an increase in the loss tangent (Tan δ) and adjustment of viscosity without reducing the adhesive strength was also observed. These changes in properties can improve the flowability and dispersibility of the PHA-TMCNFs adhesive on a rough adhesive surface at low stress. Thus, it is expected that double-silanized CNFs effectively improve their interfacial adhesion in PHA and the adhesive properties of the PHA-CNFs composites, which can be utilized for more suitable adhesive applications.

Strengthened self-healable natural rubber composites based on carboxylated cellulose nanofibers participated in ionic supramolecular network

Cellulose, as a green reinforcing agent for rubber, has excellent improvement on the tensile strength but usually accompany with a deterioration of extensibility and self-healing property. Herein, we report an efficient method to prepare robust and self-healable natural rubber/zinc dimethacrylate/carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (NR/ZDMA/CNC) composites which are constructed by a CNC participated ionic supramolecular network. Ionic supramolecular network in NR is generated by the polymerization of ZDMA during a controlled peroxide-initiated vulcanization of NR. Interestingly, NR with massive ion clusters has strong affinity with CNC, which facilitates the uniform dispersion of CNC and the compatibility between CNC and NR. Meanwhile, CNC participates into the supramolecular network via non-covalent interaction with NR chains equipped with ionic crosslinks. This greatly reduces the adverse effect of CNC on the dynamic characteristics of supramolecular network. As a result, the tensile strength of NR/ZDMA composite with 20 phr CNC could reach 4.13 MPa, while its self-healing efficiency still maintains at >80 %. Thus, NR composites with non-covalent interaction between CNC and supramolecular network display improved strength, maintained extensibility, and excellent self-healing capability. This study thus demonstrates a feasible approach to reduce the negative effect of reinforcing fillers on a self-healing rubber based on supramolecular networks.

Surface modification of cellulose nanofibers by oxidative polymerization of tannic acid/ethanediamine and their polyvinylalcohol composites

AbstractThis paper reported a facile and green method for surface functionalization of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) by oxidative polymerization of tannic acid (TA) and ethanediamine. The modified CNF (T‐CNF) was then used as filler for constructing polyvinylalcohol (PVA) composites. Experimental results suggested that the surface polar groups on CNF were increased after modification. The abundant surface polar groups allowed the homogeneous dispersion of T‐CNF in PVA matrix, and the formation of hydrogen bonds between fillers and matrix. This interfacial interaction and the high aspect ratio of T‐CNF have restricted the thermal mobility of polymer chains and increased the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of PVA. Tensile test suggested the good mechanical properties of composites, and the reinforcement effect of T‐CNF on PVA was better than that of un‐modified CNF. The good free radical scavenging ability of polymerized TA also improved the thermal stability of composites and endowed the composites with good antioxidant property. The T‐CNF/PVA composites with improved properties hold great promising applications in fields such as packaging, adhesive and coating. This work is expected to provide alternative and green approach for the surface modification of CNF and the preparation of multifunctional CNF composites with good properties.

Organic Solvent Resistant Nanocomposite Films Made from Self‐precipitated Ag/TiO2 Nanofibers and Cellulose Nanofiber for Harmful Volatile Organic Compounds Photodegradation

AbstractCellulose exhibits outstanding chemical stability, nontoxicity, and renewable ability and is regarded as a candidate for next‐generation sustainable materials. After the nanofibrillation of cellulose, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) exhibits unique optical properties, good mechanical strength, and a high aspect ratio. It is suitable to be a matrix for the photocatalysts immobilization and applied in pollutant removal owing to its solvent resistance. Combined with 1D TiO2, the network structure may be expected and beneficial for the charge transport of TiO2 nanofibers. In this study, the flexible CNF composites film incorporated with various sizes and morphology of TiO2 photocatalysts is fabricated. The relationship between the chemical and physical properties of the composite film and morphological features are discussed. The GIWAXS analysis shows that the entanglement of self‐precipitated Ag‐doped TiO2 NFs (STNFs) and CNF induce the densely hierarchical stack and regular stacking orientation. For 30 day solvent resistance tests, various CNF composite films show outstanding stability in the acetone and dimethylformamide (DMF). In the photodegradation of methyl orange in ethanol, STNF/CNF film presents a high degradation efficiency of 87% and shows excellent stability of morphology and activity after three cycles. For volatile organic compound degradation, the degradation efficiencies toward methanol and DMF vapor are higher than 90%.

Controllable Fe ion-anchored graphene heterostructures for robust and highly thermal conductive cellulose nanofiber composites

Developing the polymer-based thermal interface materials (TIMs) is one of the most promising approaches to address heat accumulation along with the functionalization, integration, and miniaturization of modern electronics, while it is still a great challenge to balance the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. In this article, Fe ion-anchored graphene (FeG) is successfully fabricated by a facile in situ Fe reduction of graphene oxide (GO) approach, and then cellulose nanofibers (CNFs)/FeG composites are prepared by vacuum-assisted filtration. FeG exhibits excellent dispersion and exfoliation in CNFs/FeG composites, due to the strong interfacial interaction between CNFs and FeG, such as hydrogen bonds and “Fe–O” complex binding. Thus, CNFs/FeG composite has the largely improved thermal conductivity up to 30.2 W/mK at FeG content of 50 wt%, which is substantially increased by 1160% in comparison with that of pure CNFs. In addition, the mechanical performances of CNFs/FeG-50 are unexpectedly simultaneously enhanced to 244 MPa for tensile strength, 4.10% for elongation at break, and 9.5 GPa for Young’s modulus, outperforming pure CNFs with increase of 137%, 33%, and 121%, respectively. This study provides a significant strategy for the design and construction of high thermal conductivity and high-performance polymeric TIMs in flexible and portable electronics.Graphic Abstract

The incorporation of lemongrass oil into chitosan-nanocellulose composite for bioaerosol reduction in indoor air

The bioaerosols present in indoor air play a major role in the transmission of infectious diseases to humans, therefore concern about their exposure is increased recently. In this regard, the present investigation described the preparation of lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) loaded chitosan and cellulose nanofibers composites (CH/CNF) for controlling the indoor air bioaerosol. The evaluation of the inhibitory effect of the composite system on culturable bacteria of the indoor air was done at different sites (air volume from 30 m3 to 80 m3) and in different size fractions of aerosol (<0.25 μm–2.5 μm). The composite system had high encapsulation efficiency (88–91%) and citrals content. A significant reduction in culturable bacteria of aerosol (from 6.23 log CFUm−3 to 2.33 log CFUm−3) was observed in presence of cellulose nanofibers and chitosan composites. The bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus cereus, Bacillus pseudomycoides sp., Pseudomonas otitidis, and Pseudomonas sp. Cf0-3 in bioaerosols were inhibited dominantly due to the diffusion of aroma molecules in indoor air. The results indicate that the interaction of diffused aroma molecule from the composite system with bacterial strains enhanced the production of ROS, resulting in loss of membrane integrity of bacterial cells. Among different size fractions of aerosol, the composite system was more effective in finer size fractions (<0.25 μm) of aerosol due to the interaction of smaller aroma compounds with bacterial cells. The study revealed that LGEO loaded chitosan and cellulose nanofibers composites could be a good option for controlling the culturable bacteria even in small-sized respirable bioaerosol.

Multi-layer oil-resistant food serving containers made using cellulose nanofiber coated wood flour composites

Cost-effective, eco-friendly, and oil and grease-resistant food serving containers were made from wood flour with cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) or lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNF) coating layers on the surface and in the bulk. The multi-layer wet-on-wet cellulose nanofiber composites were developed using a vacuum filtration process. All composites showed excellent oil/grease resistivity according to the “kit” test passing #12, the highest possible. The surface free energy and water contact angle showed that the composites with LCNF coating were more hydrophobic than the ones coated with CNF made from bleached pulp fiber. All composites had higher flexural and tensile properties compared with commercial food containers where the mechanical properties increased with increasing binder content and had acceptable thermal stability. Overall, the cellulose nanofiber composites possess excellent mechanical and barrier properties and can be considered as a wood-flour-based (pulp-free) and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAs)-free alternative for oil-resistant commercial food serving containers.

High Performance PA 6/Cellulose Nanocomposites in the Interest of Industrial Scale Melt Processing.

On an industrial scale, it is a challenge to achieve cellulose based nanocomposites due to dispersion issues and high process temperatures sensitivity. The current study describes methods to develop mechanically strong and thermally stable polyamide 6 (PA 6) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) composites capable of tolerating high processing temperatures. With PA 6 being a very technical polymer matrix to be reinforced with CNF, good dispersion can be achieved with a high speed kinetic mixer and also shield the CNF from excess thermal degradation by implementing extremely short processing time. This paper presents an industrially feasible method to produce PA 6/CNF nanocomposites with high CNF composition processed by a high speed kinetic mixer (GELIMAT®) followed by compression molding to obtain a homogenous and thermally stable nanocomposites aimed at high performance applications. PA 6 was reinforced with three different wt % formulations (5, 15 and 25 wt %) of cellulose nanofibers. The resulting nanocomposites exhibited significant increase in Young’s modulus and ultimate strength with CNF content, owing to the effective melt processing and the surface charge density of the CNF, which necessitated the dispersion. The thermal stability and polymer crystallinity with respect to CNF composition for the PA 6/CNF nanocomposites were examined by TGA and DSC analysis. Rheology studies indicated that viscosity of the composites increased with increase in CNF composition. Overall, this work demonstrates industrially viable manufacturing processes to fabricate high performance PA 6/CNF nanocomposites.