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Thermoset nanocomposites from two-component waterborne polyurethanes and cellulose whiskers
Guo-min Wu1, Jian Chen2, Shu-ping Huo2
1Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry; Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Material of Jiangsu Province; Key and Open Laboratory on Forest Chemical Engineering, State Forestry Administration; National Engineering Laboratory for Biomass Chemical Utilization, Nanjing 210042, China; Research Institute of New Technology, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 10091, China.
Abstract:
We prepared thermoset nancomposites from biomass-based two-component waterborne polyurethane (2K-WPU) and cellulose namowhiskers (CNWs). Due to the formation of hydrogen bonds, the viscosity of 2K-WPU dispersion was found to be increased with the addition of CNWs. SEM images showed "sea-island structure" corresponding to the microphase separation between CNWs nano-filler and the 2K-WPU matrix. The α-relaxation temperature (Tα) and glass transition temperature (Tg) increased with the increase of CNWs content, which was due to the formation of a rigid CNWs nano-phase acting as crosslinking points in the 2K-WPU matrix. Mechanical properties from tensile test showed Young's modulus and tensile strength of 2K-WPU/CNWs nanocomposites were reinforced by the addition of CNWs. Thermo-stability of 2K-WPU/CNWs nanocomposites decreased slightly with the increase of CNWs content, which could be attributed to the increased thermal conductivity of the material after adding CNWs.
