A comparative study of polymethylmethacrylate/cellulose nanocomposites prepared by in situ polymerization and ex situ dispersion techniques

Abstract

Polymethylmethacrylate/cellulose nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization and ex situ dispersion techniques with 10 wt% loading of cellulose nanoparticles. Cellulose nanoparticles were prepared from jute fibers by acid hydrolysis. The suspension polymerization of methylmethacrylate was carried out in presence of cellulose nanoparticles, which were dispersed in water medium and in situ polymethylmethacrylate/cellulose nanocomposite granules were formed. These granules were dissolved in chloroform, sonicated and films were prepared by solution casting method (IPC). Polymethylmethacrylate granules were prepared by similar suspension polymerization process and made into films by solution casting method. Another set of polymethylmethacrylate/cellulose nanocomposite films were prepared by dispersing nanocellulose powder (10 wt%) in polymethylmethacrylate solution and casting into films (EPC). The unreinforced polymethylmethacrylate and polymethylmethacrylate extracted from IPC films were subjected to size exclusion chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance study. The average molecular weights of neat polymethylmethacrylate and polymethylmethacrylate from IPC were quite close, but the ‘dispersity’ was slightly higher in IPC than that in neat polymethylmethacrylate. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed some shifts in EPC. X-ray diffraction study showed a similar nature of X-ray diffraction curves in all the samples. Transmission electron microscopy of IPC and EPC showed a better dispersion of fillers and formation of a network structure in IPC, whereas in EPC, the fillers were agglomerated. Surface morphology of the films was examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. IPC exhibited a much smoother surface compared to that of EPC indicating a more homogeneous dispersion of fillers. IPC showed a higher modulus of elasticity compared to PMMA and EPC. Differential scanning calorimetry showed a shift of glass transition temperature to a higher one (125°C) in IPC compared to that of polymethylmethacrylate (118°C). Thermogravimetric analysis was done to study the thermal degradation behavior of the composites.

Bacterial Cellulose Network from Kombucha Fermentation Impregnated with Emulsion-Polymerized Poly(methyl methacrylate) to Form Nanocomposite

“…The elongation at break of our PMMA-KBC nanocomposite was lower contrasted with that of other PMMA nanocomposites reinforced with cellulosic nanofibers reported in the literature, even at higher reinforcing contents [ 18 , 19 , 42 , 43 ]. In order to understand this phenomenon, the failure mechanism of our material needs to be further studied.…”

Properties of na‐montmorillonite and cellulose nanocrystal reinforced poly(butyl acrylate‐co‐methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites

“…The 23° peak is explicit in L5 since the CNC content was higher. This situation is the sign of CNC retaining its crystallinity in polymer structure .…”

“…Several researchers have studied on waterborne polyurethane cellulose nanocomposites via in situ polymerization . Also, nanocellulose‐based composites with polycaprolactone, poly(methyl methacrylate), and polyethylene oxide have been reported in the literature . Some researchers compared Na‐MMT and cellulose products when they were used in polymers as nano fillers.…”

Microfibrillated Lignocellulose Enables the Suspension-Polymerisation of Unsaturated Polyester Resin for Novel Composite Applications

“…Polystyrene-nanocellulose composite microbeads were polymerised from emulsion [ 15 ]. Polymethylmethacrylate-nanocellulose composites were successfully obtained in suspension polymerization [ 16 , 17 ]. Bacterial cellulose hydrophobised by means of silylation or acetylation, respectively, was used to stabilise medium and high internal phase water-in-acrylated soybean oil emulsions in the production of fully bio-based macroporous thermosetting cellulose nanocomposite [ 18 ].…”