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Effect of isolation method on reinforcing capability of recycled cotton nanomaterials in thermoplastic polymers

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Abstract

Cellulose extracted from recycled pulverized cotton in nanocrystalline cellulose (CNC) and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) forms is investigated as a reinforcing agent in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposites. The effect of extraction processing on the pulverized cotton is shown to influence the degree of crystallinity, morphology, and thermal stability of cellulose nanomaterials. Melt compounding of CNC with LDPE resulted in polymer nanocomposites with no discoloration at 170 °C. Significant differences observed in transparency, mechanical, and thermal properties of LDPE nanocomposite films, are demonstrated to be a result of the microstructure and the content of cellulose nanomaterials. Thermal analysis using thermogravimetric analyzer and differential scanning calorimeter showed higher thermal stability and degree of crystallinity of NFC/LDPE comparing to CNC/LDPE nanocomposite films. Tensile analysis exhibited a higher elastic modulus and tensile strength for the NFC material. 10 wt% of NFC reinforcing agent showed 32% improved strength and higher transparency over the one with CNC.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from Cotton Inc. (12-358). The cooperation of MeadWestvaco Company to process NFC-pCot is also greatly appreciated. We also thank Prof. Behnam Pourdeyhimi and the N.C. State Nonwovens Institute for providing LDPE polymer and NCRC characterization facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry & Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Nasim Farahbakhsh & Jesse S. Jur

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Peiman Shahbeigi-Roodposhti

  3. Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Peiman Shahbeigi-Roodposhti

  4. Department of Wood and Paper Science, Islamic Azad University, Sari branch, P.O. Box 48161-19318, Iran

    Hasan Sadeghifar

  5. Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Richard A. Venditti

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  1. Nasim Farahbakhsh
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Correspondence to Nasim Farahbakhsh.

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Farahbakhsh, N., Shahbeigi-Roodposhti, P., Sadeghifar, H. et al. Effect of isolation method on reinforcing capability of recycled cotton nanomaterials in thermoplastic polymers. J Mater Sci 52, 4997–5013 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0738-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0738-2

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