title: Enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of PVA composites formed with filamentous nanocellulose fibrils.
abstract: Long filamentous nanocellulose fibrils (NCFs) were prepared from chemical-thermomechanical pulps (CTMP) using ultrasonication. Their contribution to enhancements in thermal stability and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) films were investigated. The unique chemical pretreatment and mechanical effects of CTMP loosen and unfold fibers during the pulping process, which enables further chemical purification and subsequent ultrasound treatment for formation of NCFs. The NCFs exhibited higher crystallinity (72.9%) compared with that of CTMP (61.5%), and had diameters ranging from 50 to 120 nm. A NCF content of 6 wt% was found to yield the best thermal stability, light transmittance, and mechanical properties in the PVA/NCF composites. The composites also exhibited a visible light transmittance of 73.7%, and the tensile strength and Young's modulus were significantly improved, with values 2.8 and 2.4 times larger, respectively, than that of neat PVA.
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Zhanhua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China. Electronic address: nefulijian@163.com.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Engineering College, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China. Electronic address: liushouxin@126.com.
authors.forename: Shouxin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: CTMP; Nanocellulose fibrils; Poly(vinyl alcohol); Ultrasonication