The surface modification of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) to increase their stability in organic media has received much attention in recent years for their potential application in polymer nanocomposites. NCCs obtained from acid hydrolysis of cellulose fibers, are highly crystalline rod-like particles with favorable nanomechanical properties. The incorporation of NCCs into plastics, leading to an improved strength and modulus, has been widely described in the literature. However, the highly hydrophilic surface of NCCs leads to a poor compatibility with hydrophobic thermoplastic matrices. Although a number of methods to chemically modify the surface of NCC particles have been reported, facile and flexible schemes remain in demand for future applications. Here we present a surface modification method of NCCs with functionalized aryl layers via the reduction of aryl diazonium salts. Chemical reduction of diazonium cations in the presence of NCC particles forms an aryl coating on the NCC surface. Characterization of the modified material suggests the formation of a stable film that resists desorption. The polarity of the NCC surface can easily be tuned via selection of the appropriate starting material. This is verified by water contact angle measurements on modified NCC films. The results of the functionalization and characterization of the modified NCC surface using infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) will be reported. We have also found that the chemical reduction of the diazonium cations can be used to initiate free radical polymerization. The synthesis of nanocomposite materials by in situ incorporation of NCC particles will be also discussed.

Surface modification of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) with diazonium salts

246th National Meeting (2013)

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