TY - JOUR
T1 - Electrospun cellulose nanocrystals/poly(methyl methacrylate) composite nanofibers
T2 - Morphology, thermal and mechanical properties
AU - Ni, Xiaohui
AU - Cheng, Wanli
AU - Huan, Siqi
AU - Wang, Dong
AU - Han, Guangping
PY - 2019/2/15
Y1 - 2019/2/15
N2 - An electrospinning process was utilized to fabricate composite nanofibers of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The effect of environmental relative humidity on the microstructure of CNC/PMMA nanofibers was investigated. Results showed that fiber surfaces of CNC/PMMA appeared smooth. Fibers had gradually decreasing diameters and lower diameter variations as CNC loading increased. The thermal property of CNC/PMMA nanofibers was also enhanced due to hydrogen bonding between PMMA molecular chains and CNC nanoparticles. Compared to pure PMMA fibers, the storage modulus and tensile strength of composite nanofibers were pronouncedly improved. By increasing relative humidity of the electrospinning environment, these nanofibers showed prominent nanoporous surfaces while the surface roughness and porosity of CNC/PMMA nanofibers increased. Furthermore, CNCs were critical to accelerating the evolution of pores and increasing surface roughness. Our findings can provide useful guidelines for the fabrication of nanofibers with desired properties and pore structure by electrospinning.
AB - An electrospinning process was utilized to fabricate composite nanofibers of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The effect of environmental relative humidity on the microstructure of CNC/PMMA nanofibers was investigated. Results showed that fiber surfaces of CNC/PMMA appeared smooth. Fibers had gradually decreasing diameters and lower diameter variations as CNC loading increased. The thermal property of CNC/PMMA nanofibers was also enhanced due to hydrogen bonding between PMMA molecular chains and CNC nanoparticles. Compared to pure PMMA fibers, the storage modulus and tensile strength of composite nanofibers were pronouncedly improved. By increasing relative humidity of the electrospinning environment, these nanofibers showed prominent nanoporous surfaces while the surface roughness and porosity of CNC/PMMA nanofibers increased. Furthermore, CNCs were critical to accelerating the evolution of pores and increasing surface roughness. Our findings can provide useful guidelines for the fabrication of nanofibers with desired properties and pore structure by electrospinning.
KW - Cellulose nanocrystals
KW - Electrospinning
KW - Mechanical property
KW - Nanofibers
KW - Poly(methyl methacrylate)
KW - Relative humidity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055992771&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.10.103
DO - 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.10.103
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85055992771
SN - 0144-8617
VL - 206
SP - 29
EP - 37
JO - Carbohydrate Polymers
JF - Carbohydrate Polymers
ER -