Surface acetylation of cellulose nanocrystal and its reinforcing function in poly(lactic acid)

Ning Lin, Jin Huang*, Peter R. Chang, Jiwen Feng, Jiahui Yu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

398 Scopus citations

Abstract

A novel and facile method for surface acetylation of cellulose nanocrystals (CN) was developed by reaction with acetic anhydride and hydroxyl groups on the surface of CN. The resultant acetylated cellulose nanocrystals (ACN) exhibited improved dispersion in various organic solvents and reduced polarity as compared with unmodified CN. These ACN were subsequently introduced into a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) polymeric matrix to produce fully biodegradable nanocomposites, which showed superior mechanical performance and thermal stability. This improvement was primarily attributed to uniform dispersion of the ACN and to strong interfacial adhesion between filler and matrix. This high performance and eco-friendly nanocomposite will expand the utilization of cellulose nanocrystals from renewable bioresources and the practical application of PLA-based plastic.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1834-1842
Number of pages9
JournalCarbohydrate Polymers
Volume83
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2011

Keywords

  • Acetylation
  • Cellulose nanocrystal
  • Poly(lactic acid)
  • Reinforcing

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