title: Epoxy Monomers Cured by High Cellulosic Nanocrystal Loading.
abstract: The present study focuses on the use of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as the main constituent of a nanocomposite material and takes advantage of hydroxyl groups, characteristic of the CNC chemical structure, to thermally cross-link an epoxy resin. An original and simple approach is proposed, based on the collective sticking of CNC building blocks with the help of a DGEBA/TGPAP-based epoxy resin. Scientific findings suggest that hydroxyl groups act as a toxic-free cross-linking agent of the resin. The enhanced protection against water degradation as compared to neat CNC film and the improvement of mechanical properties of the synthesized films are attributed to a good compatibility between the CNC and the resin. Moreover, the preservation of CNC optical properties at high concentrations opens the way to applying these materials in photonic devices.
authors.affiliation: University of Mons-UMONS and Materia Nova Research Center , Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Place du Parc, 23-7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khelifa
authors.affiliation: Materials Research and Technology Department (MRT), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) , 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Habibi
authors.affiliation: University of Mons-UMONS and Materia Nova Research Center , Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Place du Parc, 23-7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonnaud
authors.affiliation: University of Mons-UMONS and Materia Nova Research Center , Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Place du Parc, 23-7000 Mons, Belgium.|Materials Research and Technology Department (MRT), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) , 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubois
keywords: building blocks; cellulose nanocrystals; epoxy resin; mechanical properties; thermoset glue