title: Direct fabrication of all-cellulose nanocomposite from cellulose microfibers using ionic liquid-based nanowelding.
abstract: All-cellulose nanocomposite was directly fabricated using nanowelding of cellulose microfibers as a starting material, in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) as a solvent, for the first time. The average diameter of the reinforcing component (undissolved nanofibrils) in the nanocomposite made directly from cellulose microfibers (NC-microfiber) was 53 ± 16 nm. Owing to its high mechanical properties (tensile strength of 208 MPa and Young's modulus of 20 GPa), high transparency (76% at a wavelength of 800 nm), and complete barrier to air and biodegradability, the NC-microfiber is regarded as a high multiperformance material. The NC-microfiber made directly from cellulose microfibers showed similar macro-, micro-, and nanostructures and the same properties as those made from solvent-based welding of ground cellulose nanofibers (NC-nanofiber). Omitting the step of cellulose nanofiber production makes the direct production of all-cellulose nanocomposite from cellulose microfibers easier, shorter, and cheaper than using cellulose nanofibers as starting material. The direct nanowelding of macro/micrometer-sized materials is theorized to be a fundamental approach for making nanocomposites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Wood and Paper Science and Technology, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran. hyousefi.ir@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yousefi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faezipour
authors.forename: Ghanbar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shakeri
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D010539:Permeability; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D052578:Ionic Liquids; C502841:1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride; D002482:Cellulose