Eco-friendly hybrid pigments made of cellulose and iron oxides

The controlled hydrolysis of FeC2O4 in the presence of vegetable cellulose fibres was investigated to produce a pallet of cellulose/iron oxide hybrid colored materials. Distinct iron oxide phases have been deposited at the cellulose fibres surfaces by varying the relative amount of FeC2O4 and NaOH, here used as starting materials, by performing the synthesis in hydrothermal conditions. This is a new chemical strategy for the production of a number of hybrid materials whose coloristic properties have been evaluated aiming their potential use as novel pigments for polymer based products.