Abstract
The form and sizes of the particles of cellulose-containing disperse systems obtained by dry grinding or dispersing in water a source material (wood pulp and sawdust), destructed by the thermocatalytic method, have been investigated. Their physicochemical and rheological (for aqueous dispersions) properties as well as the physicomechanical properties of composites based on such systems have been studied. By dry grinding, a powder of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) (in the case of wood pulp) and technical powder (in the case of sawdust) containing particles of sizes from 3 to 20 μm were obtained. By dispersing in an aqueous medium the wood pulp destructed to the levelling-off degree of polymerization (LODP), MCC dispersions containing separate microcrystallites and their aggregates were obtained. In the case of their sufficiently high concentration (≥ 8%), MCC gels having rheological properties typical of liquid-crystalline polymers were formed. It is shown that the cellulose-containing disperse systems obtained may be useful in composites made with polymer materials for improving their strength properties.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
C. Vasiliu-Oprea and J. Nicoleanu, “Micronized (and microcrystalline) cellulose. Obtaining and fields of application,” Polym. Plast. Technol. Eng., 32, No. 3, 181–214 (1993).
H. P. Fielder, Lexicon der Hilfstoffe für Pharmazie, Kosmetik and Angrenzende Gebiete. Bd. 1, Verlag Aulendorf (1996).
M. G. Laka and S. A. Chernyavskaya, “Physicomechanical properties of composites containing “Thermocell” microcrystalline cellulose as filler,” Mech. Compos. Mater., 32, No. 4, 381–386 (1996).
M. Maskavs, M. Kalnins, S. Reihmane, M. Laka, and S. Chernyavskaya, “Effect of water sorption of some mechanical parameters of composite systems based on low-density polyethylene and microcrystalline cellulose,” Mech. Compos. Mater., 35, No. 1, 55–62 (1999).
W. Helbert, J. Y. Cavaille, and A. Dufresne, “Thermoplastic nanocomposites filled with wheat straw cellulose whiskers. Pt I. Processing and mechanical behavior,” Polym. Compos., 17, No. 4, 604–611 (1996).
P. Hajji, J. Y. Cavaille, V. Favier, C. Ganthier, and G. Vigier, “Tensile behaviour of nanocomposites from latex and cellulose whiskers,” Polym. Compos., 17, No. 4, 612–619 (1996).
M. Laka and S. Chernyavskaya, A Method for Obtaining Microcrystalline Cellulose, Latvian Republic Patent No. 11184., Published 20.08.1996.
“Particle sizing by light scattering,” in: Applying Advanced Particle Science in Industry and Research. Applications Manual, Malvern Instruments Ltd., Spring Lane South (1993).
British Pharmacopeia. Vol. 1, (1998), p. 106.
N. Casson, in: C. C. Mill (ed.), Rheology of Disperse Systems, Pergamon Press, New York (1959), p. 84.
M. Karyakina, Laboratory Practicum on Testing Varnish and Paint Materials and Coatings [in Russian], Khimiya, Moscow (1977).
M. Maskavs, M. Kalnins, M. Laka, and S. Chernyavskaya,. “Physicomechanical properties of composites based on low-density polyethylene and cellulose-containing fillers,” Mech. Compos. Mater., 37, No. 2, 159–166 (2001).
J. Hermans, “Flow of gels of cellulose microcrystallites. I. Random and liquid crystalline gels,” J. Polym. Sci., Pt. C, No. 2, 129–144 (1963).
M. Laka, S. Chernyavskaya, A. Treimanis, and L. Faitelson, “Preparation and properties of microcrystalline cellulose gels,” Cell. Chem. Technol., 34, No. 3-4, 218–227 (2000).
C. Allain, J. Lecourtier, and G. G. Chauveteau, “Mesophase formation in high molecular-weight xanthan solutions,” Rheol. Acta, 27, No. 3, 255–262 (1988).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Laka, M., Chernyavskaya, S. & Maskavs, M. Cellulose-Containing Fillers for Polymer Composites. Mechanics of Composite Materials 39, 183–188 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023469614577
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023469614577