Cellulose nanofibers are attracting great interest as a bio-based, inexpensive, high-stiffness filler in polymer nanocomposites and are, due to their outstanding mechanical properties and the abundance and renewable nature of cellulose, viewed as an alternative to carbon nanotubes. These highly crystalline rod-like particles, commonly referred to as �nanowhiskers� can be isolated from a variety of bio-sources including cotton, wood, and many others. Processing of these materials is, however, quite intricate. Cellulose nanowhiskers have a strong tendency for aggregation, due to strong interactions between surface hydroxyl groups. The introduction of a small amount of sulfate ester groups through sulfuric acid hydrolysis greatly enhances the whisker dispersibility in aqueous and organic solvents and allows one to process nanocomposites from solution. Subsequent melt-processing is possible, provided that high shear levels are avoided. Processing-structure-property relationships will be discussed at the hand of a few selected materials systems.

Polymer nanocomposites with cellulose nanocrystals

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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