@article{Gaduan:2021:10.1007/s10570-020-03635-3,
author = {Gaduan, AN and Solhi, L and Kontturi, E and Lee, K-Y},
doi = {10.1007/s10570-020-03635-3},
journal = {Cellulose},
pages = {2947--2963},
title = {From micro to nano: polypropylene composites reinforced with TEMPO-oxidised cellulose of different fibre widths},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03635-3},
volume = {28},
year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
AB  - TEMPO-oxidised cellulose fibres are often explored as nano-reinforcement for polymers. However, it is unclear whether micrometre-sized TEMPO-oxidised cellulose fibres also possess similar reinforcing potential. In this work, we report the mechanical response of polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with TEMPO-oxidised cellulose (TOC) of different fibre widths. Micrometre-sized TOC fibres (TOCF) containing sodium carboxylate (TOCF-Na) and free hydroxyl (TOCF-H) groups, as well as nano-sized TOC nanofibrils (TOCN) were produced from dissolving pulp and incorporated into PP matrix via melt-extrusion. It was found that model PP composites containing micrometre-sized TOCF-Na and TOCF-H possessed the highest tensile modulus of up to 2.5 GPa; 40% improvement over neat PP and 30% increase over PP/TOCN composite. No significant differences in the tensile strength of PP/TOCF-Na and PP/TOCF-H composites were observed when compared to neat PP. The incorporation of nano-sized TOCN into PP however, led to a 6% decrease in tensile strength. Single-edge notched beam fracture toughness test further showed that PP/TOCN composite possessed the lowest fracture toughness of 2.52 MPa m1/2; a decrease of 18% over PP reinforced with micrometre-sized TOCF-Na and TOCF-H. Our study shows that micrometre-sized TOCFs serve as better reinforcement for polymers compared to nano-sized TOCN. This is attributed to the better dispersion of TOCF in the PP matrix. Furthermore, the presence of surface microfibrillation on TOCFs also enhanced the quality of the TOCF-PP interface through mechanical interlocking and local stiffening of the PP matrix.
AU  - Gaduan,AN
AU  - Solhi,L
AU  - Kontturi,E
AU  - Lee,K-Y
DO  - 10.1007/s10570-020-03635-3
EP  - 2963
PY  - 2021///
SN  - 0969-0239
SP  - 2947
TI  - From micro to nano: polypropylene composites reinforced with TEMPO-oxidised cellulose of different fibre widths
T2  - Cellulose
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03635-3
UR  - http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000617113800001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/100453
VL  - 28
ER  - 

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