SET-LRP and cellulose fiber: a versatile platform to tune the surface properties of cellulose

Cellulose fibers are very promising additives for polymer composites for reinforcing. However, they suffer from poor compatibility with most polymer matrices due to their hydrophilic nature. In this article, we will expand on a previously developed method for improving this compatibility consisting in grafting an acrylate monomer to the surface of cellulose fibers using SET-LRP. This time, we will investigate its versatility by using several selected acrylates (butyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, docosyl acrylate and di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate) as well as styrene. In order to understand the different effects of this monomer variation, SAXS, DSC, FESEM and contact angle measurements were performed on the composites with ABS and the final products were 3D printed by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM).