Reinforcing Mechanism of Cellulose Nanocrystals in Nanocomposites
Résumé
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are widely used in the polymer composites to improve their performance and expand the application of the polymer matrix. This chapter discusses the information on percolation and interface interactions between CNCs and the matrix. In these nanocomposite materials, interfacial phenomena are expected to be important owing to both the high specific area and the relatively reactive surface of CNCs. In the non-percolating network complex system, the interaction between the matrix and filler will be the dominant factor in the enhancement mechanism of nanoparticles. For example, using CNCs to reinforce polyethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) matrixes, the vinyl acetate content of EVA copolymer can be changed to control the polarity of the polymer, and thus to study the interfacial interaction between CNCs and different substrates. From the studies, one can draw the conclusion that the stronger the polarity of the polymer matrix, the higher the storage modulus of the composite material.