The effect of cellulose nanowhiskers on the flexural properties of self-reinforced polylactic acid composites

Kazi M. Zakir Hossain; Reda M. Felfel; Chris D. Rudd; Wim Thielemans; Ifty Ahmed

doi:10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2014.09.012

The effect of cellulose nanowhiskers on the flexural properties of self-reinforced polylactic acid composites

Kazi M. Zakir Hossain, Reda M. Felfel, Chris D. Rudd, Wim Thielemans^*, Ifty Ahmed

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Self-reinforced polylactic acid (SR PLA) composites incorporating cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) were produced by coating orientated PLA fibres with a polyvinyl acetate (PVAc)–CNW mixture as a binder prior to hot compaction at 95 °C. PLA fibres were produced with an average diameter of 11 (±0.9) μm via a melt-drawing process at 180 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the CNWs imparted roughness to the PLA fibre surface. Cross-sectional examination of the SR PLA composites after hot-pressing confirmed that the PLA fibres had maintained their morphology. Incorporation of 8 wt% CNWs within the SR-PLA composites revealed an increase in their flexural strength (48%) and modulus (39%) compared to the control composite (flexural strength ∼82 MPa and modulus ∼3.9 GPa). In addition, whilst the control SR-PLA composite revealed quite brittle characteristics, the addition of CNWs and PVAc gave the self-reinforced composite a more ductile behaviour.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	193-200
Number of pages	8
Journal	Reactive and Functional Polymers
Volume	85
Early online date	28 Sept 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2014.09.012
Publication status	Published - 31 Dec 2014

Keywords

cellulose nanowhiskers
flexural properties
PLA fibre
self-reinforced composite

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title = "The effect of cellulose nanowhiskers on the flexural properties of self-reinforced polylactic acid composites",

abstract = "Self-reinforced polylactic acid (SR PLA) composites incorporating cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) were produced by coating orientated PLA fibres with a polyvinyl acetate (PVAc)–CNW mixture as a binder prior to hot compaction at 95 °C. PLA fibres were produced with an average diameter of 11 (±0.9) μm via a melt-drawing process at 180 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the CNWs imparted roughness to the PLA fibre surface. Cross-sectional examination of the SR PLA composites after hot-pressing confirmed that the PLA fibres had maintained their morphology. Incorporation of 8 wt% CNWs within the SR-PLA composites revealed an increase in their flexural strength (48%) and modulus (39%) compared to the control composite (flexural strength ∼82 MPa and modulus ∼3.9 GPa). In addition, whilst the control SR-PLA composite revealed quite brittle characteristics, the addition of CNWs and PVAc gave the self-reinforced composite a more ductile behaviour.",

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AU - Hossain, Kazi M. Zakir

AU - Felfel, Reda M.

AU - Rudd, Chris D.

AU - Thielemans, Wim

AU - Ahmed, Ifty

PY - 2014/12/31

Y1 - 2014/12/31

N2 - Self-reinforced polylactic acid (SR PLA) composites incorporating cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) were produced by coating orientated PLA fibres with a polyvinyl acetate (PVAc)–CNW mixture as a binder prior to hot compaction at 95 °C. PLA fibres were produced with an average diameter of 11 (±0.9) μm via a melt-drawing process at 180 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the CNWs imparted roughness to the PLA fibre surface. Cross-sectional examination of the SR PLA composites after hot-pressing confirmed that the PLA fibres had maintained their morphology. Incorporation of 8 wt% CNWs within the SR-PLA composites revealed an increase in their flexural strength (48%) and modulus (39%) compared to the control composite (flexural strength ∼82 MPa and modulus ∼3.9 GPa). In addition, whilst the control SR-PLA composite revealed quite brittle characteristics, the addition of CNWs and PVAc gave the self-reinforced composite a more ductile behaviour.

AB - Self-reinforced polylactic acid (SR PLA) composites incorporating cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) were produced by coating orientated PLA fibres with a polyvinyl acetate (PVAc)–CNW mixture as a binder prior to hot compaction at 95 °C. PLA fibres were produced with an average diameter of 11 (±0.9) μm via a melt-drawing process at 180 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the CNWs imparted roughness to the PLA fibre surface. Cross-sectional examination of the SR PLA composites after hot-pressing confirmed that the PLA fibres had maintained their morphology. Incorporation of 8 wt% CNWs within the SR-PLA composites revealed an increase in their flexural strength (48%) and modulus (39%) compared to the control composite (flexural strength ∼82 MPa and modulus ∼3.9 GPa). In addition, whilst the control SR-PLA composite revealed quite brittle characteristics, the addition of CNWs and PVAc gave the self-reinforced composite a more ductile behaviour.

KW - cellulose nanowhiskers

KW - flexural properties

KW - PLA fibre

KW - self-reinforced composite

U2 - 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2014.09.012

DO - 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2014.09.012

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84912526254

SN - 1381-5148

VL - 85

SP - 193

EP - 200

JO - Reactive and Functional Polymers

JF - Reactive and Functional Polymers

ER -

The effect of cellulose nanowhiskers on the flexural properties of self-reinforced polylactic acid composites

Abstract

Keywords

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