Cellulose nanocrystals and related polymer nanocomposites

PEREDA, M; DUFRESNE, A.

BIOMASS- BASED BIOCOMPOSITES

Smithers Rapra

Año: 2013; p. 305 - 348

Fossil energy depletion and growing environmental concerns have brought up increasing interest in bio-based eco-efficient and high technology materials. This particular situation provides unique bionanocomposites possessing outstanding properties, which have never been found in conventional composites. It is possible to obtain nanoelements from different renewable resources depending on their biological origin, e.g., cellulose, starch, chitin. Among them, main research is dedicated to cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), as cellulose is the most abundant polymer on earth, and also due to the low cost, renewability, biodegradability, strength, light weight, nanoscale dimension and unique morphology of these nanoparticles. The designation ?whiskers? is also used to designate these elongated crystalline rod-like nanoparticles. This chapter mainly focuses on the preparation, morphological features and properties (mechanical, thermal, swelling and barrier) of biodegradable bio-based nanocomposites, being cellulose the nano-sized reinforcement. Drastically enhanced mechanical properties are obtained, well understood by virtue of the formation of a continuous network of CNCs. The aspect ratio of CNC is also an important property in enhancing the tensile strength of nanocomposites. Impressive mechanical properties make them ideal candidates for the processing of composites. Nanoparticle extraction sources and methods are also discussed in detail, as well as the processing techniques of the final nanomaterials.