Comparison of nanocrystalline cellulose and fumed silica in latex coatings. Issue 4 (1st December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Villalpando-Páez, Federico; Nguyen, Lang; Abitbol, Tiffany; Komarov, Anton; Prevo, Brian Geoffrey; Corwin, Jessica; Galli, Christopher; Choudhary, Saeed; Veldhuis, Stephen Clarence; Villalobos, Marco; Cranston, Emily Dawn
• Is Part Of: Green materials. Volume 2:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 206
• Page End: 221
• Publication Date: 2014-12-01
• Subjects: corrosion; -- fumed silica; -- nanocomposites; -- coatings; -- cellulose; -- surface characterisation; -- nanoparticles; Biodegradable plastics -- Periodicals; Building materials -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 620.192
• DOI: 10.1680/gmat.14.00017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-1220

Abstract

Abstract : Exploratory work has been undertaken to compare the performance of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) with fumed silica in styrene/acrylic latex coatings. NCC has emerged as a promising candidate for the reinforcement of polymeric materials because of its impressive mechanical properties and renewable nature. However, a better understanding of NCC in nanocomposites, compared to more conventional fumed silica-filled systems, is critical to identify feasible commercial applications for NCC. While the dispersion of nanomaterials in polymer matrices is often a challenge, by working with hydrophilic nanoparticles in a waterborne latex, the authors demonstrate that both NCC and fumed silica were dispersed in the latex coatings (up to 9 wt% loadings). The hardness, elastic modulus, resistance to plastic deformation and impact strength were similar for coatings with both types of nanomaterials at loadings below the percolation threshold of NCC (~3 wt%); however, the mechanical performance of NCC-filled coatings was significantly better at higher loadings. In abrasion and corrosion resistance tests, NCC-filled coatings underperformed relative to unfilled and fumed silica-filled coatings. This is the first report that directly compares NCC-filled polymeric coatings with silica-filled coatings including evaluation using industry standards like nanoindentation and corrosion resistance testing. This article contains supporting information that will be made available online once the issue is published.