title: Binary Mixed Homopolymer Brushes Tethered to Cellulose Nanocrystals: A Step Towards Compatibilized Polyester Blends.
abstract: This article reports on the successful preparation and characterization of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) surface-modified with polylactide (PLA) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) binary mixed homopolymer brushes. Their synthesis was designed as a three-step procedure combining polyester synthesis and surface-modification of CNCs with simultaneous polyester grafting via a heterogeneous copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction. For comparison, single homopolymer brushes tethered to CNCs (PLLA-g-CNC and PBSBDEMPAM-g-CNC) were obtained applying the same procedure. The hairy nanoparticles were characterized in terms of chemical composition and thermal properties. Spectroscopic analyses suggested "rippled" microphase separation of both immiscible homopolyesters in the mixed brushes, while others showed impeded homopolyester crystallization after surface-grafting. A synergistic relationship between the polyesters and CNCs was also suggested, i.e., the polyester grafting increases the CNC thermal resistance, while CNC presence imparts char formation. The as-obtained binary homopolymer brushes tethered to nanoparticles makes these surface-modified cellulosic nanomaterials attractive as compatibilization/reinforcement agents for PLA/PBS blends.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Center of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), University of Mons (UMONS) , Place du Parc 23, 7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rosica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mincheva
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Process and Environmental Engineering Research Division, University of Nottingham , University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Latifah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jasmani
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Center of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), University of Mons (UMONS) , Place du Parc 23, 7000 Mons, Belgium.|Interdisciplinary Center for Mass Spectrometry, Organic Synthesis and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, University of Mons (UMONS) , Place du Parc 23, 7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Josse
authors.affiliation: Analysis and Characterization Unit, Materia Nova, Avenue Copernic 1, 7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yoann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Paint
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Center of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), University of Mons (UMONS) , Place du Parc 23, 7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jena-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Raquez
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center for Mass Spectrometry, Organic Synthesis and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, University of Mons (UMONS) , Place du Parc 23, 7000 Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gerbaux
authors.affiliation: Renewable Materials and Nanotechnology Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Campus Kulak Kortrijk , Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eyley
authors.affiliation: Renewable Materials and Nanotechnology Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Campus Kulak Kortrijk , Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thielemans
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Center of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), University of Mons (UMONS) , Place du Parc 23, 7000 Mons, Belgium.|Materials Research and Technology Department (MRT), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) , Rue du Brill 41, 4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubois
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide); D002482:Cellulose