Cellulose is the most abundant chemical compound on earth andits natural affinity for self-adhesion has long been recognized. The ease ofadhesion that occurs in cellulose has contributed to its use in a wide varietyof consumer products. Cellulose adhesion, which has received considerableattention over the past half century, occurs over a practical length scaleranging from the nanoscale to millimeters. Adhesion theories that have beenexamined in the bonding of cellulose fibers include: mechanical interlocking,adsorption or wetting theory, diffusion theory, and the theory of weak boundarylayers. Cellulose fibers on the nanoscale are prepared in four different ways:1) bacterial cellulose nanofibers, 2) cellulose nanofibers by electrospinning,3) micro- or nano-fibrillated cellulose plant cell fibers, and 4) nanorods orcellulose whiskers.  Structure and properties of nanocellulose that are important include: morphology, crystalline structure, surface properties, chemical and physical properties and properties in liquid suspension. Cellulosic nanofibers present a very high surface area which makes the adhesion properties the most important parameter to control for nanocomposite applications. In this presentation, recent research on measuring adhesion and surface energy of cellulose nanofibers via contact angle analysis, inverse gas chromatography and atomic force microscopy will be discussed.

Challenges in measuring the adhesion properties and surface
energy of cellulose nanofibrils

240th National Meeting (2010)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Challenges in measuring the adhesion properties and surface energy of cellulose nanofibrils