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. 2020 Nov 28;12(12):2838.
doi: 10.3390/polym12122838.

Characterization of Polyester Nanocomposites Reinforced with Conifer Fiber Cellulose Nanocrystals

Grazielle da Silva Maradini  1 , Michel Picanço Oliveira  1 , Gabriel Madeira da Silva Guanaes  1 , Gabriel Zuqui Passamani  1 , Lilian Gasparelli Carreira  1 , Walter Torezani Neto Boschetti  2 , Sergio Neves Monteiro  3 , Artur Camposo Pereira  3 , Bárbara Ferreira de Oliveira  4
Affiliations

Characterization of Polyester Nanocomposites Reinforced with Conifer Fiber Cellulose Nanocrystals

Grazielle da Silva Maradini et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

The application of cellulose nanocrystal has lately been investigated as polymer composites reinforcement owing to favorable characteristics of biodegradability and cost effectiveness as well as superior mechanical properties. In the present work novel nanocomposites of unsaturated polyester matrix reinforced with low amount of 1, 2, and 3 wt% of cellulose nanocrystals obtained from conifer fiber (CNC) were characterized. The polyester matrix and nanocomposites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), bending test, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The result showed that the addition of only 2 wt% CNC increased the nanocomposite flexural strength by 159%, the ductility by 500% and the toughness by 1420%. Fracture analyses by SEM revealed a uniform participation of the CNC in the polyester microstructure. The resistance to thermal degradation of the CNC reinforced nanocomposites was improved in more than 20 °C as compared to neat polyester. No significant changes were detected in the water absorptions and XRD pattern of the neat polyester with incorporations up to 3 wt% CNC. These results reveal that the 2 wt% CNC nanocomposite might be a promising more ductile, lightweight and cost-effective substitute for conventional glass fiber composites in engineering applications.

Keywords: cellulose nanocrystal; mechanical behavior; nanocomposite; polyester; thermal analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) TEM of the commercial conifer cellulose nanocrystals (CNC); (b) AFM, 2 × 2 μm scan; (c) Scan of 300 × 400 nm (detail of a nanocrystal), (d) 3D image of the surface of the commercial nanocrystal.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Experimental procedure of bending test, (a) universal testing machine, (b) setup support, and (c) standard specimens.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparative X-ray diffraction between CNC, polyester, and nanocomposites.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Typical flexural stress vs. deflection curves for the neat polyester and nanocomposites reinforced with CNC.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Variation with weight percent CNC (wt%) of: (a) Flexural strength, (b) elastic modulus, (c) total deflection, and (d) flexural toughness.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of (a) polyester as well as nanocomposites with (b) 1 wt% CNC, (c) 2 wt% CNC, and (d) 3 wt% CNC.
Figure 7
Figure 7
(a) Thermogram (TG) and its derivative (DTG) for CNC and (b) comparative thermogram of neat polyester and nanocomposites with different CNC concentrations.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Comparative DTG between nanopolymers with different contents of commercial CNC.
Figure 9
Figure 9
DTA curves for unsaturated polyester as well as nanocomposites with 1, 2, and 3 wt% of CNC. The black arrow indicates the polyester Tg and the red arrow indicates the composites Tg.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Comparative water absorption between unsaturated polyester resin polymer and nanocomposites reinforced with different CNC concentrations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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