10 research outputs found
Nanofibrillated cellulose: surface modification and potential applications
Interest in nanofibrillated cellulose has been increasing
exponentially because of its relatively ease of preparation
in high yield, high specific surface area, high strength
and stiffness, low weight and biodegradability etc. This biobased nanomaterial has been used mainly in nanocomposites due to its outstanding reinforcing potential. Solvent casting, melt mixing, in situ polymerization and electrospinning are important techniques for the fabrication of nanofibrillated cellulose-based nanocomposites. Due to hydrophilic character along with inherent tendency to form strong network held through hydrogen-bonding, nanofibrillated cellulose cannot uniformly be dispersed in most non-polar polymer matrices.
Therefore, surface modification based on polymer grafting,
coupling agents, acetylation and cationic modification was
used in order to improve compatibility and homogeneous
dispersion within polymer matrices. Nanofibrillated cellulose
opens the way towards intense and promising research with
expanding area of potential applications, including nanocomposite materials, paper and paperboard additive, biomedical applications and as adsorbent