Crosslinked poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC): Structure and mechanical properties

The structure of cellulose-based nanocomposites significantly influences their final mechanical properties. However, obtaining a good dispersion of hydrophilic nanocellulose materials in a hydrophobic polymer matrix is challenging. In this study, two unique methods were developed to improve the dispersion of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) in a poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) matrix. One method was the crosslinking of PVAc by sodium tetraborate (borax), which is expected to prevent agglomeration of CNCs during the drying process, and the other method was the in-situ polymerization of vinyl acetate in the presence of CNCs to generate good compatibility between CNC and PVAc. The results showed that the crosslinking degree of PVAc could be varied by tuning the pH. The atomic force microscopy images illustrate that after drying, the in-situ polymerized PVAc/CNC composite was much better dispersed than the composite produced using mechanical mixing. The mechanical and thermo-mechanical characterizations indicate that the in-situ nanocomposite with 10 wt% of CNC had a higher strength and storage modulus compared with the mixed composite with the same CNC concentration. Further investigations of the restriction effect caused by the crosslinker are required.