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The effect of plasticizer and cellulose nanowhisker content on the dispersion and properties of cellulose acetate butyrate nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Etang Ayuk Jackson,
Mathew Aji P.,
Oksman Kristiina
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.30583
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , plasticizer , thermal stability , cellulose , dynamic mechanical analysis , thermogravimetric analysis , dispersion (optics) , composite material , chemical engineering , solvent , polymer , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , optics , engineering
We studied the effects of plasticizer and cellulose nanowhisker content on the dispersion and properties of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB)‐based bionanocomposites. The cellulose nanowhiskers in an aqueous medium were solvent‐exchanged to nonaqueous polar solvent (acetone) and used for nanocomposite processing by solution casting. The plasticized and unplasticized nanocomposites with 5 and 10 wt % cellulose nanowhisker content were prepared. Atomic force microscopy indicated nanoscale dispersion of whiskers in the CAB matrix. The dynamic mechanical analysis showed an increase in storage modulus with addition of cellulose nanowhiskers, especially above the glassy‐rubbery transition region. Thermogravimetric analysis showed an improvement in thermal stability with increased whisker content for both unplasticized and plasticized nanocomposites. The plasticized nanocomposites showed better transparency than the unplasticized composites, indicating a better dispersion of cellulose nanowhiskers in CAB, in the presence of a plasticizer. The dynamic mechanical properties and thermal stability increased, whereas transparency decreased with increased CNW content. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009