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Optically Transparent Composites Reinforced with Networks of Bacterial Nanofibers
Author(s) -
Yano H.,
Sugiyama J.,
Nakagaito A. N.,
Nogi M.,
Matsuura T.,
Hikita M.,
Handa K.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.200400597
Subject(s) - materials science , nanofiber , composite material , bacterial cellulose , ultimate tensile strength , cellulose , polymer , chemical engineering , engineering
Bacterial‐cellulose nanofibers obtained from Acetobacter xylinum can reinforce polymer resins while maintaining the transparency of the original resin, even at fiber contents as high as 70 wt.‐%, because the nanofibers do not appreciably scatter visible light. The flexible plastic composites (see Figure) reinforced with this renewable resource have thermal expansion coefficients of 6 × 10 –6 °C –1 , Young's moduli of 20 GPa, and tensile strengths reaching 325 MPa.