Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
6602897 
Journal Article 
Plasma surface-modification of cellulose nanocrystals: a green alternative towards mechanical reinforcement of ABS 
Alanis, A; Hernandez Valdes, J; Maria Guadalupe, NV; Lopez, R; Mendoza, R; Mathew, A; Diaz de Leon, R; Valencia, L; , 
2019 
1 
RSC Advances
EISSN: 2046-2069 
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY 
CAMBRIDGE 
9 
30 
17417-17424 
English 
35519888 
WOS:000471912700056 
This article proposes a strategy to functionalize cellulose nanocrystals by means of plasma-surface modification utilizing monomers of different nature: caprolactone, styrene and farnesene. The surface characteristics of the nanocrystals were studied by different techniques including XPS, FTIR and STEM, demonstrating that this technique allows a successful functionalization, yielding homogenous functionalization which does not alter the rod-like shape of the nanocrystals, and therefore their anisotropic behavior. We have furthermore studied the employment of the modified nanocrystals as reinforcement additive of ABS, which significantly enhanced the impact resistance of the thermoplastic, which could have great implications for industrial applications.