Improving the mechanical properties of polycaprolactone using functionalized nanofibrillated bacterial cellulose with high dispersibility and long fiber length as a reinforcement material. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hashim, Hamidah binti; Emran, Nur Aisyah Adlin binti; Isono, Takuya; Katsuhara, Satoshi; Ninoyu, Hiroko; Matsushima, Tokuo; Yamamoto, Takuya; Borsali, Redouane; Satoh, Toshifumi; Tajima, Kenji
• Is Part Of: Composites. Volume 158(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: A. Cellulose -- A. Fibres -- A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) -- B. Mechanical properties; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Manufacturing processes; Periodicals; 620.11805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2022.106978
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-835X

Abstract

Abstract: Nanofibrillated bacterial cellulose (NFBC) produced in the presence of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) (HP-NFBC) is amphiphilic and has a very long fiber length (>15 μm). In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL)-grafted HP-NFBC (HPNFBC- g -PCL) was prepared via ring-opening polymerization from the hydroxy groups on the HP-NFBC surface as initiation sites. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites containing PCL homopolymer and HPNFBC- g -PCL were investigated. The nanocomposite with 13 wt% cellulose was the stiffest film with the highest ultimate strength and Young's modulus of 57.3 and 661.3 MPa, respectively. HP-NFBCs grafted with PCL of different molecular weights (20, 15, and 9 k) were also prepared to study the effect of the graft length on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Grafting HP-NFBC with a higher molecular weight (20 k) PCL led to an enhanced ultimate strength and Young's modulus. These results suggest that HP-NFBC can serve as an excellent reinforcement material.