Amphiphilic Cellulose Nanocrystals for Aqueous Processing of Thermoplastics.

ABSTRACT: Conventional composite formulation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with thermoplastics involves melt compounding or in situ polymerisation. In this rather unconventional approach, polypropylene (PP) microparticles were finely suspended and stabilized, at varying weight loadings, in aqueous suspensions of amphiphilic CNCs to enable adsorption of the nanoparticles onto the thermoplastic. In order to achieve these suspensions, CNCs were modified with either octyl or hexadecyl groups. These modifications imparted hydrophobic properties to the CNCs, hence increasing interfacial adhesion to the PP microparticles. The modification, however, also retained the sulfate half ester groups that ensured dispersibility in aqueous media. The CNCs were evidently coated on the PP microparticles as revealed

SUBMITTER: Onyianta AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9667462 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature