Surface modification is a fundamental necessity regarding material applications concerning cellulose. Surface modification by chemical reactions has suffered from accessibility issues, harsh reaction conditions and poor control over the substitution. A preliminary work (Kontturi etl al. Langmuir, 2017) demonstrated that the surface of cellulose nanopapers could be exclusively modified by facile adsorption of hydrophobic polymers from aprotic solvents, thereby omitting chemical reactions. However, the surface coverages were fairly meagre and the adsorbed layers were weakly attached. In the present study, a surface adsorption from a molten state of polymer on a cellulose surface was established, inducing the formation of a strongly adsorbed polymer layer, i.e., a so-called Guiselin layer.(W. Xu, et al. <i>J. Colloid Interface Sci. </i>2022 ) As a proof-of-concept, a steady Guiselin layer of polystyrene (PS) was studied on the model films of cellulose. A thicker film of PS was coated on cellulose, followed by annealing above the glass transition temperature, which induced a strongly adsorbed Guiselin layer of PS on cellulose. A subsequent leaching of the excess polymer by a good solvent finalized the procedure. As a result, a polystyrene film with nanoscale dimensions was irreversibly adsorbed on cellulose changing the physio-chemical properties of the cellulose surface into a hydrophobic exterior. In the realm of material application, the solid-state adsorption of polylactic acid was further implemented achieving full surface coverage of macroscopic cellulose substrates including nanopaper and textile. Collectively, this method supplies a new route for surface modification of lignocellulosic materials with direct polymer melt coating, beneficial for developing functionalities in lignocellulosic materials.

Interfacial engineering of nanocellulose substrates by solid-state polymer adsorption

Where thousands of chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. Spring 2023 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch at the end of March.

ACS Spring 2023

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.