Abstract
Stable aqueous suspensions of cellulose nano-crystals (CNCs) were fabricated from both native and mercerized cotton fibers by sulfuric acid hydrolysis, followed by high-pressure homogenization. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and wide-angle X-ray diffraction data showed that the fibers had been transformed from cellulose I (native) to cellulose II (mercerized) crystal structure, and these polymorphs were retained in the nanocrystals, giving CNC-I and CNC-II. Transmission electron microscopy showed rod-like crystal morphology for both types of crystals under the given processing conditions with CNC-II having similar width but reduced length. Freeze-dried agglomerates of CNC-II had a much higher bulk density than that of CNC-I. Thermo-gravimetric analysis showed that CNC-II had better thermal stability. The storage moduli of CNC-II suspensions at all temperatures were substantially larger than those of CNC-I suspensions at the same concentration level. CNC-II suspensions and gels were more stable in response to temperature increases. Films of CNC and Poly(ethylene oxide) were tested. Both CNC-I/PEO and CNC-II/PEO composites showed increased tensile strength and elongation at break compared to pure PEO. However, composites with CNC-II had higher strength and elongation than composites with CNC-I.
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Acknowledgments
We are thankful for the financial support from the USDA CSREES (Award No: 2008-38814-04771) and from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Award No: 31070505 and 31010103905). We also thank Dr. Vince Edwards of the USDA ARS Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans, LA for providing the fabric material.
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Yue, Y., Zhou, C., French, A.D. et al. Comparative properties of cellulose nano-crystals from native and mercerized cotton fibers. Cellulose 19, 1173–1187 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-012-9714-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-012-9714-4