Surface maleylation and naphthaloylation of chitin nanofibers for property enhancement

Surface N-maleylation and N-naphthaloylation of chitin nanofiber (NF) were achieved by reaction with maleic and naphthalic anhydrides in water, respectively. Maleyl and naphthaloyl groups were sufficiently introduced to an amino group on a surface-deacetylated chitin NF. The characteristic nanofiber morphology was maintained after maleylation and naphthaloylation. These NFs were homogeneously dispersed in several organic solvents. Especially, naphthaloyl chitin NF was dispersed even in aromatic solvents, owing to the high level of solvation interactions with the naphthaloyl group. The NF dispersions in those aromatic solvents exhibited a dispersive-to-precipitate transition response at approximately 29 °C. Moreover, the naphthaloyl chitin NF dispersion cut harmful ultraviolet light. The maleyl chitin NF formed a self-standing gel after cross-linking polymerization.