<br/>Cellulose crystal is known for its high rigidity along fiber direction. However, cellulose often undergoes different kind of stress situation during its processing and at use. Little attention has been paid for deformation other than tensile deformation. In this contribution, we have investigated the deformation behaviour under bending stress by using atomistic simulation.  The response of cellulose crystal was dependent on the direction of bending load with respect to the crystallographic plane. A linear, non-linear elastic and plastic deformation were observed as the bending displacement increased. Within the linear elastic region the deformation behaviour could be described by continuum mechanics. Above the linear elastic limit the shear deformation became dominant. The elastic deformation limit was observed at the bending angle of about 60°, and the morphology of the plastically deformed cellulose crystal showed a considerable similarity to the kinked cellulose microfibrils observed by electron microscopy. These observations highlight the importance of shear in bending deformation of cellulose crystal.

Elastic and plastic deformation behaviour of cellulose crystal by atomistic simulation

251st National Meeting (2016)

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