Nanocelluloses Reinforced Bio-Waterborne Polyurethane

HORMAIZTEGUI, M. E. VICTORIA; MARIN, DIANA; GAÑÁN, PIEDAD; STEFANI, PABLO MARCELO; MUCCI, VERÓNICA; ARANGUREN, MIRTA I.

Polymers

MDPI

Lugar: Basel; Año: 2021 vol. 13

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of two kinds of bio- nano-reinforcements, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and bacterial cellulose (BC), on the properties of castor oil-based waterborne polyurethane (WBPU) films. CNC were obtained by acidolysis of microcrystalline cellulose, while BC was produced from Komagataeibacter medellinensis. WBPU/BC composite wasprepared by impregnation of a BC membrane and further drying, while WBPU/CNC composite was obtained by casting. The nanoreinforcement was adequately dispersed in the polymer using any ofthe preparation methods, obtaining optically transparent compounds. Thermal gravimetric analy- sis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, dynam-ical mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle and water absorption tests were carried out to analyze the chemical, physical and thermal properties as well as the morphology of nanocelluloses and composites. The incorporation of nanoreinforcements into the formulation increased the storage modulus above the glass transition temperature of the polymer. The thermal stability of the BC-reinforced composites was slightly higher than that CNC composites. In addition, BC allowed to maintain the structural integrity of the composites films when they were immersed in water. The results were related to the relatively high thermal stability and the particular three- dimensional interconnected reticular morphology of BC.