title: Acetylation of cellulose nanowhiskers with vinyl acetate under moderate conditions.
abstract: A novel and straightforward method for the surface acetylation of cellulose nanowhiskers by transesterification of vinyl acetate is proposed. The reaction of vinyl acetate with the hydroxyl groups of cellulose nanowhiskers obtained from cotton linters was examined with potassium carbonate as catalyst. Results indicate that during the first stage of the reaction, only the surface of the nanowhiskers was modified, while their dimensions and crystallinity remained unchanged. With increasing reaction time, diffusion mechanisms controlled the rate, leading to nanowhiskers with higher levels of acetylation, smaller dimensions, and lower crystallinity. In THF, a solvent of low polarity, the suspensions from modified nanowhiskers showed improved stability with increased acetylation.
authors: Kahramanmaraş Sütçü Imam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
authors: Nihat Sami
authors: NS
authors: Cetin
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Tingaut
authors: Nilgül
authors: N
authors: Ozmen
authors: Nathan
authors: N
authors: Henry
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Harper
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Dadmun
authors: Gilles
authors: G
authors: Sèbe
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014753:Vinyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D014753:Vinyl Compounds; D002482:Cellulose; C011566:vinyl acetate