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Facile one−step preparation of acetylated cellulose nanocrystals and their reinforcing function in cellulose acetate film with improved interfacial compatibility

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Abstract

A facile one− step method to fabricate acetylated cellulose nanocrystals (ACNCs) was developed by using mixed sulfuric acid and acetic acid hydrolysis. It could be demonstrated that the esterification of surface hydroxyl groups took place simultaneously with hydrolysis of amorphous regions of cellulose, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT − IR) and X − ray diffraction (XRD) measurement. The as − prepared ACNCs exhibited typical rod − like morphology with diameter and length of 12 − 18 and 191 − 234 nm, respectively. All − cellulose nanocomposite films were subsequently produced by introducing ACNCs into cellulose acetate (CA) matrix through solution casting technique. The mechanical performance of nanocomposites was significantly enhanced due to the uniform dispersion of ACNCs and favorable CA − ACNC interface. The results showed that the tensile strength, Young’s modulus and elongation at break of nanocomposite film were increased by 78%, 58% and 68%, respectively, with the introduction of 5% ACNCs. Moreover, the nanocomposite films could retain good optical transparency. These results indicated ACNCs have a great potential to be used as reinforcing filler in polymer matrices for extending their industrial applications.

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Acknowledgment

This work has been financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (21773291, 61904118), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu (BK20190935, BK20190947), Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China (19KJA210005, 19KJB510012, 19KJB120005, 19KJB430034), Suzhou Key Laboratory for Nanophotonic and Nanoelectronic Materials and Its Devices (SZS201812) and the Talent Introduction Project of Suzhou University of Science and Technology (331912304).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Nanophotonic and Nanoelectronic Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, Jiangsu Province, China

    Miao Cheng, Jing Hu, Qianqian Liu, Tao Wei, Wanfei Li, Yun Ling & Bo Liu

  2. State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, and College of Material Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China

    Zongyi Qin

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  1. Miao Cheng
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Correspondence to Miao Cheng.

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Cheng, M., Qin, Z., Hu, J. et al. Facile one−step preparation of acetylated cellulose nanocrystals and their reinforcing function in cellulose acetate film with improved interfacial compatibility. Cellulose 28, 2137–2148 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03663-z

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