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Crosslinked nanofibrillated cellulose: poly(acrylic acid) nanocomposite films; enhanced mechanical performance in aqueous environments

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Abstract

Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) was compounded with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) via solvent casting. Nanocomposite films were thermally-crosslinked to allow the formation of ester bonds between NFC and PAA, as confirmed by 13CNMR and infrared spectroscopy. The network morphology of the cellulose nanofibrils was left intact by the introduction of PAA and crosslinking. Water absorption and swelling was diminished by the introduction of crosslinking, due to the reduced number of vacant hydroxyl and carboxyl groups available to interact with water molecules. Crosslinking with PAA increased the activation energy required for thermal degradation. PAA effectively reinforced NFC, increasing Young’s modulus, tensile strength and glass transition temperature. Crosslinking imparted restraints on segmental motion of polymer chains, further enhancing the thermomechanical properties and retaining elasticity. Wet-strength properties were enhanced due to the reduced hydrophilicity of crosslinked nanocomposite films.

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  1. Polymer Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Chemical Technology, Aalto University School of Chemical Technology, P.O. Box 16100, 00076, Aalto, Finland

    Steven Spoljaric, Arto Salminen, Nguyen Dang Luong & Jukka Seppälä

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  1. Steven Spoljaric
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  2. Arto Salminen
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  4. Jukka Seppälä
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Correspondence to Jukka Seppälä.

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Spoljaric, S., Salminen, A., Luong, N.D. et al. Crosslinked nanofibrillated cellulose: poly(acrylic acid) nanocomposite films; enhanced mechanical performance in aqueous environments. Cellulose 20, 2991–3005 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-013-0061-x

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