title: Cellulose nanocrystals/polyurethane nanocomposites. Study from the viewpoint of microphase separated structure.
abstract: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) successfully obtained from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were dispersed in a thermoplastic polyurethane as matrix. Nanocomposites containing 1.5, 5, 10 and 30 wt% CNC were prepared by solvent casting procedure and properties of the resulting films were evaluated from the viewpoint of polyurethane microphase separated structure, soft and hard domains. CNC were effectively dispersed in the segmented thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane (STPUE) matrix due to the favorable matrix-nanocrystals interactions through hydrogen bonding. Cellulose nanocrystals interacted with both soft and hard segments, enhancing stiffness and stability versus temperature of the nanocomposites. Thermal and mechanical properties of STPUE/CNC nanocomposites have been associated to the generated morphologies investigated by AFM images.
authors.affiliation: Materials+Technologies Group, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of Basque Country, Pza. Europa 1, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rueda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saralegui
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández d'Arlas
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Corcuera
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mondragon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eceiza
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D020724:Elastomers; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D020724:Elastomers; D011108:Polymers; D011140:Polyurethanes; C036925:elastomeric polymer; C115016:polyetherurethane; D002482:Cellulose; C109691:microcrystalline cellulose