Microcrystalline cellulose fillers for use in hybrid composites with polyethylene and lignin

Abstract

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) fillers were obtained for hybrid composites with high-density polyethylene and lignin. The fillers were obtained from bleached kraft pulp and cotton fibres. The raw materials were treated by the thermocatalytic destruction method and then ground in a ball mill. Treatment conditions were developed for each raw material. MCC powder samples were obtained, which contained microparticles of different shape and size. Composite samples, which contained polyethylene, 50% of lignin, 20% of MCC and a coupling agent, were produced. It was established that the mechanical properties of composites were improved to a greater extent by the MCC filler obtained from cotton fibres. This can be related to the fact that it contained longer fibre fragments in comparison with wood pulp MCC. The higher degree of crystallinity of cotton cellulose also played a part