title: A high strength nanocomposite based on microcrystalline cellulose and polyurethane.
abstract: A high-strength elastomeric nanocomposite has successfully been prepared by dispersing microcrystalline cellulose in a polyurethane matrix. The resulting nanocomposites show increased strain-to-failure in addition to increased stiffness and strength compared to the unfilled polyurethane. The optimal composite contained 5 wt % cellulose. The average true strength for this composition was 257 MPa, compared with 39 MPa for the neat polyurethane, and showed the highest strain-to-failure. The improvements of stiffness, strength, as well as strain-to-failure are believed to be due to good interaction, by both covalent and hydrogen bonds, between the polyurethane and the cellulose nanofibrils.
authors.affiliation: Fibre and Polymer Technology, Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Qiuju
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Marielle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henriksson
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lars A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Berglund
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes; D002482:Cellulose; C109691:microcrystalline cellulose