Cellulose nanofibril-reinforced composites using aqueous dispersed ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer
Journal article, 2018

In order to explore the reinforcing capabilities of cellulose nanofibrils, composites containing high contents of cellulose nanofibrils were prepared through a combination of water-assisted mixing and compression moulding, the components being a cellulose nanofibril suspension and an aqueous dispersion of the polyolefin copolymer poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid). The composite samples had dry cellulose nanofibril contents from 10 to 70 vol%. Computed tomography revealed well dispersed cellulose fibril/fibres in the polymer matrix. The highest content of 70 vol% cellulose nanofibrils increased the strength and stiffness of the composites by factors of 3.5 and 21, respectively, while maintaining an elongation at break of about 5%. The strength and strain-at-break of cellulose nanofibril composites were superior to the pulp composites at cellulose contents greater than 20 vol%. The stiffness of the composites reinforced with cellulose nanofibrils was not higher than for that of composites reinforced with cellulose pulp fibres. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

Direct mixing

Nanocomposite

Cellulose composite

Cellulose nanofibrils

Amphiphilic co-polymer

Latex

Rheology

Author

Abhijit Venkatesh

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Engineering Materials

Johannes Thunberg

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Engineering Materials

Tobias Moberg

Polymeric Materials and Composites

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Maria Klingberg

Polymeric Materials and Composites

Lars Hammar

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Materials and manufacture

Anna Peterson

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Christian Müller

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Antal Boldizar

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Engineering Materials

Cellulose

0969-0239 (ISSN) 1572882x (eISSN)

Vol. 25 8 4577-4589

Subject Categories

Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology

Polymer Technologies

Composite Science and Engineering

DOI

10.1007/s10570-018-1875-3

More information

Latest update

9/5/2018 1