NCC as a functional scaffold for amine-cured epoxy nanocomposite materials of tunable properties

摘要

The disclosure relates to a novel process for functionalizing NCC, a method for producing amine-cured epoxy-based nanocomposites through the use of said functionalized NCC, and nanocomposites thereof. The process for functionalizating NCC comprises providing a mixture of NCC and one or more monomers. The mixture is suitable for free radical polymerization and the monomer is cross-linkable with epoxy and is aqueous soluble. The polymerization takes place in the presence of a free radical initiator and oxygen is purged from the mixture and the initiator solution. The epoxy-based nanocomposite is produced by mixing the funtionalized NCC with an amine-curable epoxy resin and a hardener, in a solvent, and allowing the mixture to cure.

主权项

1. A nanocomposite comprising one or more amine-cured epoxy resin and a functionalized nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), wherein said nanocomposite is prepared by a process comprising
(i) providing a mixture of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and one or more monomers, wherein said mixture is suitable for free radical polymerization and said monomer is cross-linkable with epoxy and is aqueous soluble; (ii) providing a free radical initiator or a solution thereof; (iii) purging oxygen from the mixture of (i) and the solution of (ii); (iv) mixing (i) and (ii) after step (iii) and polymerizing the monomer(s) to provide functionalized NCC; (v) isolating said functionalized NCC; (vi) mixing said functionalized NCC, an amine-curable epoxy resin and hardener in a suitable solvent; and (vii) curing the mixture obtained from (vi) to obtain said nanocomposite.