Nanocomposites from sisal cellulose nanowhiskers and poly(vinyl acetate)

NANCY GARCIA, WIM THIELEMANS Y ALAIN DUFRESNE

Río de Janeiro, Brasil.

Congreso; MACRO 2006, World Polymer Congress; 2006

Sisal fibres were used as a novel source of cellulose nanowhiskers. Statistical analysis of the sisal whisker length and diameter resulted in average values of 250nm and 4nm respectively, resulting in an average aspect ratio in the upper range of reported cellulose nanowhisker values. Nanocomposites were obtained by mixing sisal nanowhiskers with poly(vinyl acetate). Water uptake, and thermal and thermo-mechanical behaviour of the resulting composites was determined for samples conditioned at different levels of relative humidity. The diffusion rate constants of water have also been determined. Above percolation, the equilibrium water uptake of the composite stays constant and the Tg does not vary for constant RH conditioning. Below percolation, thermal stabilisation is only noticed at low humidity. Mechanical characterisation of the nanocomposites shows a significant stabilisation at temperatures above Tg, where the composites retain structural integrity. The level of stabilisation is dependent on the water uptake of the composite materials.