Enhancing strength and toughness of cellulose nanofibril network structures with an adhesive peptide. (1st February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trovatti, Eliane; Tang, Hu; Hajian, Alireza; Meng, Qijun; Gandini, Alessandro; Berglund, Lars A.; Zhou, Qi
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 181(2018)
• Page Start: 256
• Page End: 263
• Publication Date: 2018-02-01
• Subjects: Cellulose nanofibrils -- Nanopaper structure -- Adhesive peptide -- Nanocomposite -- Mechanical properties; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.10.073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: An adhesive peptide of eleven amino acid residues is adsorbed to cellulose nanofibrils. The peptide forms a β-sheet structure within the network of cellulose nanofibrils. The adhesive peptide facilitates formation of a strong cellulose nanofibril network. The composites are transparent with high modulus, strength, and toughness. Abstract: The mechanical properties of cellulose nanofibrils network structure are essential for their applications in functional materials. In this work, an adhesive peptide consisting of just 11 amino acid residues with a hydrophobic core sequence of FLIVI (F – phenylalanine, L – leucine, I – isoleucine, V – valine) flanked by three lysine (K) residues was adsorbed to 2, 2, 6, 6-Tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy radical (TEMPO) oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TO-CNF). Composite films were prepared by solution casting from water suspensions of TO-CNF adsorbed with the adhesive peptide. The nanofibrils network structure of the composite was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The structure of the peptide in the composites and the interactions between TO-CNF and the peptide were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mechanical properties of the composites were characterized by tensile tests and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). With 6.3 wt.% adhesive peptide adsorbed onto TO-CNF, the composite showed a modulus of 12.5 ± 1.4 GPa, a tensile strength of 344.5 ± (15.3) MPa, and a strain to failure of 7.8 ± 0.4%, which are 34.4%, 48.8%, and 23.8% higher than those for neat TO-CNF, respectively. This resulted in significantly improved toughness (work to fracture) for the composite, 77% higher than that for the neat TO-CNF.