Abstract
The chemical composition and morphology of Syngonanthus nitens (Capim Dourado) fibers were investigated. An unusual low lignin content and high holocellulose content have been observed. High aspect ratio cellulose whiskers were prepared from these lignocellulosic fibers by an acid hydrolysis treatment. The average diameter and length were 4.5 nm and 300 nm, respectively, giving rise to an aspect ratio around 67. Natural Rubber nanocomposite films reinforced with cellulose whiskers extracted from capim dourado were prepared by film casting. The mechanical properties of the ensuing nanocomposite films were investigated in both the linear and the non-linear range using dynamical mechanical analysis and tensile tests, respectively. The reinforcing effect observed above the glass transition temperature of the matrix was higher than the one observed for other polysaccharide nanocrystals and cellulose whiskers extracted from other sources.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Angellier H, Molina-Boisseau S, Lebrun L, Dufresne A (2005) Processing and structural properties of waxy maize starch nanocrystals reinforced natural rubber. Macromolecules 38:3783–3792
Azizi Samir MAS, Alloin F, Dufresne A (2005) Review of recent research into cellulosic whiskers, their properties and their application in nanocomposite field. Biomacromolecules 6:612–626
Bendahou A, Habibi Y, Kaddami H, Dufresne A (2009) Physico-chemical characterization of palm from Phoenix Dactylifera-L, preparation of cellulose whiskers and natural rubber-based nanocomposites. J Biobased Mat Bioenergy 3:81–90
Bondeson D, Mathew A, Oksman K (2006) Optimization of the isolation of nanocrystals from microcrystalline cellulose by acid hydrolysis. Cellulose 13:171–180
Buschle-Diller G, Zeronian SH (1992) Enhancing the reactivity and strength of cotton fibers. J Appl Polym Sci 45:967–979
Dong XM, Revol JF, Gray D (1998) Effect of microcrystallite preparation conditions on the formation of colloid crystals of cellulose. Cellulose 5:19–32
Dufresne A (2006) Comparing the mechanical properties of high performances polymer nanocomposites from biological sources. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 6:322–330
Dufresne A (2008a) Cellulose-based composites and nanocomposites. In: Gandini A, Belgacem MN (eds) Monomers, polymers and composites from renewable resources, 1st edn. Elsevier, Great Britain, pp 401–418
Dufresne A (2008b) Polysaccharide nanocrystals reinforced nanocomposites. Can J Chem 86:484–494
Favier V, Canova GR, Cavaillé JY, Chanzy H, Dufresne A, Gauthier C (1995a) Nanocomposite materials from latex and cellulose whiskers. Polym Adv Techn 6:351–355
Favier V, Chanzy H, Cavaillé JY (1995b) Polymer nanocomposites reinforced by cellulose whiskers. Macromolecules 28:6365–6367
Filho PA, Badr O (2004) Biomass resources for energy in North-Eastern Brazil. Appl Energy 77:51–67
Giulietti AM, Wanderley MGL, Longhi-Wagner HM, Pirani JR (1996) Efeito da luz e da temperatura na germinação de sementes de quatro espécies de Xyris L. (Xyridaceae) ocorrentes na Serra do Cipó, MG, Brasil. Acta Botânica Brasilica 10:329–389
Gopalan Nair K, Dufresne A (2003) Crab shells chitin whiskers reinforced natural rubber nanocomposites. 2. Mechanical behavior. Biomacromolecules 4:666–674
Marchessault RH, Morehead FF, Walter NM (1959) Liquid crystal systems from fibrillar polysaccharides. Nature 184:632–633
Razera IAT, Frollini E (2004) Composites based on jute fibers and phenolic matrices: properties of fibers and composites. J Appl Polym Sci 91:1077–1085
Rowell RM, Han JS, Rowell JS (2000) Characterization and factors effecting fiber properties. In: Frollini E, Leão AL, Mattoso LHC (eds) Natural polymers and agrofibers composites, Sao Carlos
Satyanarayana KG, Wypych F (2007) Characterization of natural fibers. In: Fakirov S, Bhattacharyya D (eds) Handbook of engineering biopolymers: homopolymers, blends and composites. Carl Hanser Verlag, Munchen, pp 4–47
Satyanarayana KG, Sukumaran K, Mukherjee PS, Pillai SGK (1986) Material science of lignocellulosic fibres. Metallography 19:389–400
Satyanarayana KG, Guilmaraes JL, Wypych F (2007) Studies on lignocellulosic fibers of Brazil. Part I: Source, production, morphology, properties and applications. Composites Part A Appl Sci Manufact 38:1694–1709
Schmidt IB (2005) Etnobotânica e ecologia populacional de Syngonanthus nitens: sempre-viva utilizada para artezanato no Jalapão, Tocantins. Universidade de Brasília, Brasília
Schmidt IB, Figueiredo IB, Scariot A (2007) Ethnobotany and effects of harvesting on the population ecology of Syngonanthus nitens (Bong.) Ruhland (Eriocaulaceae), a NTFP from Jalapão region, central Brazil. Econ Bot 61:73–85
Shrinath A, Tschirner U, Ramaswamy S (2003) Economics and feasibility of a greenfield cereal straw market pulp mill. Pulp paper Canada 104:34–37
Siqueira G, Bras J, Dufresne A (2009) Cellulose whiskers vs. microfibrils: influence of the nature of the nanoparticle and its surface functionalization on the thermal and mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Biomacromolecules 10:425–432
Sydenstricker THD, Mochnaz S, Amico SC (2003) Pull-out and other evaluations in sisal- reinforced polyester biocomposites. Polym Test 22:375–380
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge AlBan Program for the financial support (PhD fellowship of G. S.).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Siqueira, G., Abdillahi, H., Bras, J. et al. High reinforcing capability cellulose nanocrystals extracted from Syngonanthus nitens (Capim Dourado). Cellulose 17, 289–298 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-009-9384-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-009-9384-z