Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are abundant, sustainable and exhibit a high elastic modulus making them an ideal material for reinforcing polymer nanocomposites. Controlling dispersibility and mechanical performance within nanocomposites requires a firm understanding of both particle-particle and particle-polymer interactions. This work explores CNC particle-particle interactions by swelling thin CNC films in water and various non-polar solvents. CNC film thickness and porosity were monitored continuously throughout swelling via surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. Increased film thickness was observed to be dependent on solvent molecular volume indicating that solvation forces are responsible for swelling in CNC films. Moreover, CNC films remain stable throughout the swelling measurements demonstrating that particle-particle van der Waals forces are sufficient to overcome solvation forces.

Probing particle – particle interactions in swollen cellulose nanocrystal thin films by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy

249th National Meeting (2015)

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