title: Thermal and mechanical properties of bio-nanocomposites reinforced by Luffa cylindrica cellulose nanocrystals.
abstract: Cellulose nanocrystals have been prepared by acid hydrolysis of Luffa cylindrica fibers. The acid-resistant residue consisted of rod-like nanoparticles with an average length an diameter around 242 and 5.2nm, respectively (aspect ratio around 46). These cellulose nanocrystals have been used as a reinforcing phase for the processing of bio-nanocomposites using polycaprolactone (PCL) as matrix. To promote interfacial filler/matrix interactions the surface of cellulose nanocrystals was chemically modified with n-octadecyl isocyanate (C(18)H(37)NCO). Evidence of the grafting was supported by infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. X-ray diffraction analysis was used to confirm the integrity of cellulose nanocrystals after chemical modification. Both unmodified and chemically modified nanocrystals were used to prepare nanocomposites. The thermal properties of these materials were determined from differential scanning calorimetry and their mechanical behavior was evaluated in both the linear and non-linear range.
authors.affiliation: The International School of Paper, Print Media and Biomaterials (Pagora), Grenoble Institute of Technology, BP 65, 38402 Saint Martin d'Hères Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bras
authors.forename: Nadège
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Follain
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belbekhouche
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marais
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dufresne
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D029776:Luffa / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D002482:Cellulose