Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have been widely investigated as reinforcing filler for polymeric matrices, due to their high aspect ratio, strength, and stiffness and the renewable nature of cellulose. Nevertheless, interface compatibility issues and aggregation have been observed for many systems. In order to prevent such problems, a new class of materials based on polymer-decorated or “hairy” CNCs has been investigated. These materials were prepared by decorating the surface of CNCs with polymeric chains, resulting in one-component nanocomposites (OCNs). By design, these materials cannot suffer from the aforementioned problems, and they merge properties from the nanoparticles as well as the grafted polymer. In addition, OCNs also offer the possibility to control the thermomechanical properties or morphology by varying the polymer grafted on the surface. Here we will present our recent results on the surface-initiated polymerization of different monomers from cotton linter CNCs. The nature of the polymer graft was varied to include rubbery as well as glassy polymers, and the reaction conditions were varied to control the CNC:polymer ratio. The resulting OCNs can be dispersed in common organic solvents and were melt processed to create thin films. The thermomechanical properties of OCNs are strongly influenced by the nature and the molecular weight of the grafts, and the mechanical properties are superior to those of conventionally made reference composites.

One-component nanocomposites based on polymer-decorated cellulose nanocrystals

2019 Spring National Meeting

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