Utilization of different wood-based microfibril cellulose for the preparation of reinforced hydrophobic polymer composite films via Pickering emulsion: A comparative study

Chaoqun Xu; Ning Xu; Juan Yu; Lihong Hu; Puyou Jia; Yimin Fan; Chuanwei Lu; Fuxiang Chu

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.031

Utilization of different wood-based microfibril cellulose for the preparation of reinforced hydrophobic polymer composite films via Pickering emulsion: A comparative study

Int J Biol Macromol. 2023 Feb 1:227:815-826. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.031. Epub 2022 Dec 12.

Authors

Chaoqun Xu¹, Ning Xu², Juan Yu³, Lihong Hu⁴, Puyou Jia⁵, Yimin Fan⁶, Chuanwei Lu⁷, Fuxiang Chu⁸

Affiliations

¹ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: xuchaoqun@njfu.edu.cn.
² Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
³ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: yujuannjfu@njfu.edu.cn.
⁴ Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), No 16, Suojin Wucun, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210042, China. Electronic address: hlh@icifp.cn.
⁵ Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), No 16, Suojin Wucun, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210042, China. Electronic address: jiapuyou@icifp.cn.
⁶ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: fanyimin@njfu.edu.cn.
⁷ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: lucw302@njfu.edu.cn.
⁸ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), No 16, Suojin Wucun, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210042, China. Electronic address: chufuxiang@caf.ac.cn.

PMID: 36521716
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.031

Abstract

Pickering emulsion is a promising strategy for the preparation of hydrophobic polymer composite using hydrophilic nanocellulose. Herein, two types of microfibril cellulose, pure mechanical pretreated microfibril cellulose (P-MFC) and Deep eutectic solvents pretreated microfibril cellulose (DES-MFC), were used to fabricate reinforced hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) composites (MFC/PS) with the aid of Pickering emulsion. The results showed that both oil/water ratio and the content as well as surface hydrophilicity of MFC were playing an important role in emulsifying capacity. 8 % MFC/PS emulsion showed the smallest and most uniform emulsion droplets which is similar to nanofibril cellulose (NFC)/PS at the oil/water ratio of 3:1. The mechanical performance of MFC/PS composites verified that the reinforcement effect was closely related to the emulsifying capacity of MFC. Specially, when the content of P-MFC was 8 wt%, the composite exhibited the best mechanical properties with the tensile strength of 44.7 ± 4.4 MPa and toughness of 1162 ± 52.8 kJ/m³ and Young's modulus of 13.5 ± 0.8 GPa, which was comparable to NFC/PS composite. Moreover, the effective enhancement role of P-MFC in hydrophobic polymethyl methacrylate and polycarbonate composites were also realized via Pickering emulsion strategy. Overall, this work constituted a proof of concept of the potential application of P-MFC in nano-reinforced hydrophobic composite.

Keywords: Microfibril cellulose (MFC); Pickering emulsion; Polystyrene.

MeSH terms

Cellulose* / chemistry
Emulsions / chemistry
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Microfibrils
Polymers* / chemistry
Polystyrenes
Wood

Substances

Polymers
Cellulose
Emulsions
Polystyrenes