Enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of PVA composites formed with filamentous nanocellulose fibrils

Wei Li; Qiong Wu; Xin Zhao; Zhanhua Huang; Jun Cao; Jian Li; Shouxin Liu

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.07.031

Enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of PVA composites formed with filamentous nanocellulose fibrils

Carbohydr Polym. 2014 Nov 26:113:403-10. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.07.031. Epub 2014 Jul 22.

Authors

Wei Li¹, Qiong Wu², Xin Zhao², Zhanhua Huang², Jun Cao³, Jian Li⁴, Shouxin Liu⁵

Affiliations

¹ Material Science and Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
² Material Science and Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
³ College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
⁴ Material Science and Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China. Electronic address: nefulijian@163.com.
⁵ Material Science and Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China. Electronic address: liushouxin@126.com.

PMID: 25256501
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.07.031

Abstract

Long filamentous nanocellulose fibrils (NCFs) were prepared from chemical-thermomechanical pulps (CTMP) using ultrasonication. Their contribution to enhancements in thermal stability and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) films were investigated. The unique chemical pretreatment and mechanical effects of CTMP loosen and unfold fibers during the pulping process, which enables further chemical purification and subsequent ultrasound treatment for formation of NCFs. The NCFs exhibited higher crystallinity (72.9%) compared with that of CTMP (61.5%), and had diameters ranging from 50 to 120 nm. A NCF content of 6 wt% was found to yield the best thermal stability, light transmittance, and mechanical properties in the PVA/NCF composites. The composites also exhibited a visible light transmittance of 73.7%, and the tensile strength and Young's modulus were significantly improved, with values 2.8 and 2.4 times larger, respectively, than that of neat PVA.

Keywords: CTMP; Nanocellulose fibrils; Poly(vinyl alcohol); Ultrasonication.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't