Microcrystalline cellulose treated by steam explosion and used for thermo-mechanical improvement of polypropylene

Abstract

The use of cellulose fibers derived from renewable resources as reinforcement in polymeric composites provides positive environmental benefits with respect to disposal and raw material savings. Microcrystalline cellulose is a regenerated cellulose material that is free of lignin and hemicellulose, widely used in various applications. Recently, there has been enormous interest in producing polymer nanocomposites using cellulose nanofibers as reinforcement. Moreover, the steam explosion process is an ecofriendly method to modify cellulose fibers by inducing fibrillation, allowing the production of nanofibers. Fibrillation of microcrystalline cellulose using steam explosion process as the only cellulose treatment process was not yet studied in the literature. In the present work, steam explosion process was applied to commercial microcrystalline cellulose and the obtained fibers were characterized and employed in composites with polypropylene for evaluation of the thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties in relation to the matrix. The results showed that this process promoted partial fibrillation to nanosized diameter, and an increase in crystalline degree and thermal stability of the original fiber. As for the polypropylene/cellulose composites in the absence of compatibilizer, there was an increase of thermal degradation temperature and mechanical properties measured by dynamic-mechanical analysis in comparison with pure polypropylene.

Biocomposites of Cellulose Isolated from Coffee Processing By-Products and Incorporation in Poly(Butylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate) (PBAT) Matrix: An Overview

“…This technique has a lower environmental impact since no hazardous chemicals are used. There is also a lower energy consumption compared with other mechanical processes [57][58][59]. Ravindran et al [60] applied a two-step sequential pretreatment to achieve enhanced lignin removal on spent coffee grounds.…”

Study on water absorption of hydrophobically modified ramie fiber and the reinforced polypropylene composites

“…For example, water treatment, alkali treatment, and heat treatment are used to remove pectin, fructose, lipids, and so forth 11–15 . Steam explosion and ionic liquid swelling are used to change the size of fiber 16,17 . In addition, plasma irradiation, surface grafting, peroxide modification, and silane coupling agent modification are used to change the surface polarity of fiber 18–22 .…”

“…[11][12][13][14][15] Steam explosion and ionic liquid swelling are used to change the size of fiber. 16,17 In addition, plasma irradiation, surface grafting, peroxide modification, and silane coupling agent modification are used to change the surface polarity of fiber. [18][19][20][21][22] Generally speaking, most of these studies are devoted to improving the mechanical properties of the composites by changing the structure and properties of fiber, improving the compatibility between the fiber and matrix, and improving the dispersibility of fiber.…”

Preparation of BTCA‐esterified cellulose nanocrystals and effects on mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene composites

“…The Nanocellulose is used to strengthen polymer matrixes in a variety of ways. These include solution casting, 1 solution coagulation, 2 melt blending theory, 3 electrostatic spinning, 4 and sol-gel solvent exchange. Reinforced with water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol 5 and waterborne polyurethane, 6 nanocellulose can be cast directly in aqueous solution with good dispersion.…”