Structural and mechanical properties of cellulose composites made of isolated cellulose nanofibers and poly(vinyl alcohol). (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oishi, Yukako; Nakaya, Masaki; Matsui, Eitaro; Hotta, Atsushi
• Is Part Of: Composites. Volume 73(2015)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 79
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: A. Polymer fiber -- A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) -- B. Mechanical properties -- B. Microstructures; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Manufacturing processes; Periodicals; 620.11805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2015.02.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-835X

Abstract

Abstract: A composite of cellulose-nanofibers (Cel-F)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was made through a developed water-jet nano-isolation process called the Star Burst processing (SB). The structural and the mechanical properties of the pure Cel-F and the Cel-F/PVA composites were analyzed for comparison. The microstructural analyses revealed the step-by-step nano-isolation procedures of the SB processing, eventually constructing nanofibers with the minimum diameter of ∼23 nm. It was also found that the crystallinity of Cel-F was rapidly increased by 14% at the early stage of the SB process, subsequently becoming almost constant, irrespective of the number of the SB treatments. Additionally, Cel-F were homogenously dispersed in PVA matrix after 40 SB treatments. Young's modulus of the resulting composite was increased by 48%. The results were in good agreement with the outcome of the short-fiber composite theory, indicating a highly potential use of the SB-processed cellulose nanofibers as new reinforcement materials.