title: Preparation and characterization of transparent PMMA-cellulose-based nanocomposites.
abstract: Nanocomposites of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and cellulose were made by a solution casting method using acetone as the solvent. The nanofiber networks were prepared using three different types of cellulose nanofibers: (i) nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), (ii) cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and (iii) bacterial cellulose from nata de coca (NDC). The loading of cellulose nanofibrils in the PMMA varied between 0.25 and 0.5 wt%. The mechanical properties of the composites were evaluated using a dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA). The flexural modulus of the nanocomposites reinforced with NDC at the 0.5 wt% loading level increased 23% compared to that of pure PMMA. The NFC composite also exhibited a slightly increased flexural strength around 60 MPa while PMMA had a flexural strength of 57 MPa. The addition of NDC increased the storage modulus (11%) compared to neat PMMA at room temperature while the storage modulus of PPMA/CNC nanocomposite containing 0.25 and 0.5 wt% cellulose increased about 46% and 260% to that of the pure PMMA at the glass transition temperature, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that there was no significant change in thermal stability of the composites. The UV-vis transmittance of the CNF nanocomposites decreased by 9% and 27% with the addition of 0.25 wt% CNC and NDC, respectively. This work is intended to spur research and development activity for application of CNF reinforced PMMA nanocomposites in applications such as: packaging, flexible screens, optically transparent films and light-weight transparent materials for ballistic protection.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Structures and Composites Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA; The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBİTAK), Tunus Cad, Kavaklıdere, Ankara 06100, Turkey. Electronic address: esra.erbas@maine.edu.
authors.forename: Esra Erbas
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Kiziltas
authors.affiliation: Advanced Structures and Composites Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA; Department of Forest Industry Engineering, Faculty of Forestry, University of Bartin, Bartin 74100, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiziltas
authors.affiliation: Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI 48124, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bollin
authors.affiliation: Advanced Structures and Composites Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000091:Acetobacter / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000096:Acetone / Q000737:chemistry; D002482:Cellulose / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D000096:Acetone; D002482:Cellulose; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate
keywords: Nanocellulose; Nanocomposites; PMMA; Thermal analysis; Transparency