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New insights into the material chemistry of polycaprolactone-grafted cellulose nanofibrils/polyurethane nanocomposites

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Abstract

Polycaprolactone (PCL) was grafted to TEMPO-oxidized nanocellulose (TONCs) through a classical ring-opening polymerization reaction mediated by the surface TONC hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. The PCL increased the thermal stability and hydrophobicity without compromising the crystallinity. When TONCs and PCL-grafted TONCs (PTONC) were compared with respect to their perfusion within a segmented polyurethane matrix (CLPU), PTONC dispersed far better as evidenced by increased storage modulus and Young’s modulus. The mechanical strength of the PTONC nanocomposites was nearly that of unmodified TONCs while at a low content (<3 wt%). Furthermore, PTONC in CLPU promoted micro-phase separation of the matrix leading to a smaller decrease in loss factor and elongation at break for the nanocomposites, highly superior to unmodified TONCs. Thus, PTONC as a reinforcement agent enhanced the mechanical properties and ductility of CLPU.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support of the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China (2014A030311030), the Guangdong-Hongkong joint innovation program, (2014B050505019), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Guangdong Educational Commission, China (No. 2013KJCX0016) are cheerfully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, People’s Republic of China

    C. Tian, S. Y. Fu, Q. J. Meng & Lucian A. Lucia

  2. Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science and Technology, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan, 250353, People’s Republic of China

    Lucian A. Lucia

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  1. C. Tian
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  2. S. Y. Fu
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  3. Q. J. Meng
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  4. Lucian A. Lucia
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Correspondence to S. Y. Fu.

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Tian, C., Fu, S.Y., Meng, Q.J. et al. New insights into the material chemistry of polycaprolactone-grafted cellulose nanofibrils/polyurethane nanocomposites. Cellulose 23, 2457–2473 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-016-0980-4

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