Physicomechanical properties of composites containing “thermocell” microcrystalline cellulose as filler

Abstract

We have developed a thermocatalytic method for obtaining "ThermoceU" microcrystalline cellulose. We have prepared composites based on various materials (plastics, rubber blends, etc.) with Thermocell as the fdler and have investigated their properties. We have shown that using Thermocell enhances the physicomechanical properties of the materials. We see an increase in density by a factor of 1.5, an increase in tensile strength by a factor of 3, and an increase in bending strength by a factor of 2.5 for polystyrene--Thermocell composites compared with pure polystyrene. We have shown that ThermoceU can be used to enhance the strength of linoleum. The strength of linoleum based on cellulose ethers is increased by 10-15% when 10-30% Thermocell is introduced. The density and strength of pulp sheet materials made from a pulp suspension containing 5-10% Thermocell are increased by 10-30%. This is connected with the fact that the fine Thermocell particles fill the space between the cellulose fibers and promote structural homogeneity and formation of bonds between fibers.Furthermore, replacing expensive materials with Thermocell obtained from waste of the paper and pulp industry leads to a decrease in the cost of the finished products.Many papers are currently available which consider the properties of composites consisting of technical materials such as plastics, rubbers, glazed pottery, porcelain, and microcrystalline cellulose [1, 2]. It has been shown that containing a certain amount of microcrystalline cellulose, depending on the matrix material, enhances the physicomechanical properties of composites.Microcrystalline cellulose is usually obtained by acid or base hydrolysis [3]. This method is lengthy and complicated, consumes large amounts of chemicals and electrical energy, and permits large losses of raw material, i.e., cellulose. Therefore it is not profitable to obtain microcrystalline cellulose by the hydrolysis method for technical purposes.The change in the physicomechanical properties and the degree of polymerization of cellulose materials after heat treatment at relatively low temperatures (I00-180.~ was studied in [4, 5]. We have established that after holding cellulose materials at elevated temperatures, their physicomechanlcal properties deteriorate (especially the breaking number of bends and the tear resistance) and the degree of polymerization decreases. The rate of change in these properties depends on the type of cellulose, the lignin and hemicellulose content, and the presence of degradation catalyst (such as acid) or inhibitor. We also established that at the selected temperatures (up to 180~ degradation occurs only in the amorphous sections, without affecting the crystalline regions.Based on the indicated data, we set ourselves the task of obtaining microcrystalline cellulose by a thermocatalytic route ("Thermocell') for further application in various composites with technical materials. In this case, the properties of the materials are improved. We used sulfite and sulfate wood pulp and newsprin...

Dynamic mechanical behavior and thermal properties of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-filled nylon 6 composites

“…(aramid and glass). MCC filled polyethylene and polystyrene polymer composites have been studied [12][13][14][15]. However there is lack of information about MCC filled engineering thermoplastics.…”

Banana fibers and microfibrils as lignocellulosic reinforcements in polymer composites

“…The presence of absorbed water and hydroxyl groups reduces the ability of cellulose microfibrils to develop good interface adhesion to most polymer matrices (Laka & Chernyavskaya, 1996). To avoid these drawbacks, cellulose microfibrils can be submitted to specific surface modifications by physical, physicochemical, or chemical treatments (Laka & Chernyavskaya, 1996;Maskavs, Kalnins, Laka, & Chernyavskaya, 2001).…”

Effect of water sorption on some mechanical parameters of composite systems based on low-density polyethylene and microcrystalline cellulose

“…We used LDPE of trademark 158 13 020 produced by the Kazanorgsintez company (Russia) (analogous to NCPE 1800 of Neste Polyeten AB) and Thermocell, the production procedure and characteristics of which were described in [4]. The compositions were prepared by mixing the LDPE with Thermocell (up to 0.7 parts by weight) on rolls at a temperature of 130~ for 10 rain.…”

“…In this study, we investigate a composite system based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and microcrystalline cellulose "Thermocell" (TC), which is a product of the thermocatalytic destruction of wood pulp [4]. Compared to the traditional disperse wood materials (sawdust, flour, etc.…”

“…Compared to the traditional disperse wood materials (sawdust, flour, etc. ), Thermocell is characterized by constant chemical composition and small granulometric scatter [4] (80% of particles have an average diameter of 20-50 pin). The effect of water sorption and TC content on the properties of composites, such as elastic modulus, ultimate strength, relative elongation, and work of failure in tension, is analyzed.…”