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Controlled Silylation of Nanofibrillated Cellulose in Water: Reinforcement of a Model Polydimethylsiloxane Network
Author(s) -
Zhang Zheng,
Tingaut Philippe,
Rentsch Daniel,
Zimmermann Tanja,
Sèbe Gilles
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201500525
Subject(s) - methyltrimethoxysilane , polydimethylsiloxane , cellulose , silylation , materials science , nanocellulose , cellulosic ethanol , chemical engineering , thermal stability , cellulose fiber , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , coating , engineering
A comparative approach for the surface silylation of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) in water is proposed through an environmentally friendly sol–gel route based on alkoxysilanes. NFC suspensions were freeze‐dried under controlled conditions in the presence of methyltrimethoxysilane used as a model alkoxysilane. Two different protocols that involve different pH values (0.4 and 4) and post‐treatment procedures were investigated and compared. Protocol 1 led to a network of nanofibrils in which polysiloxane particles were dispersed, and protocol 2 produced a scaffold of cellulosic fibrils coated by a polysiloxane layer bonded firmly to the cellulosic substrate. Different from protocol 1, protocol 2 imparted the cellulosic material with hydrophobic properties and improved its thermal stability. Moreover, if 1 wt % of fibrils treated by protocol 2 were incorporated into a model polydimethylsiloxane network, substantial improvements of the static and dynamic mechanical properties of the composite were noted.