Physical and mechanical properties of a vegetable oil based nanocomposite

BUFFA, JUAN M.; MONDRAGON, GURUTZ; CORCUERA, M. ANGELES; ECEIZA, ARANTXA; MUCCI, VERÓNICA; ARANGUREN, MIRTA I.

EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2018 vol. 98 p. 116 - 124

0014-3057

Nanocomposites films were prepared from a bio-based waterborne polyurethane and cellulose nanocrystals(CNCs) obtained from the sulfuric acid hydrolysis of cellulose nanofibers. The polyurethane used as matrix of thenanocomposite film was synthesized from a biobased macrodiol derived from castor oil, 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate and triethylamine. The concentration of CNC in the films wasvaried from 0 to 10 wt.%, and the films obtained by casting were characterized by DSC, DMA, tensile tests andTGA. Due to the hydrophilic nature of the PU, the nanocrystals were well dispersed, obtaining homogenous andtransparent films which displayed improved thermal and mechanical properties compared to the neat PU. Theimpact of the CNCs on the crystallization of the polymer was analyzed. Finally, the mechanical properties werefitted to well known theoretical models, allowing a better understanding of the interactions between polymerand filler in the composites.