Functionalization of MWCNT and their application in properties development of green wood nanocomposite

Starch based wood nanocomposites (WSNC) were prepared successfully from starch and soft wood with multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) as nano reinforcing agent through a completely green path. The most important part of this scheme was the use of water as the solvent. In this technique, starch was grafted with methylmethacrylate (MMA) and MWCNT was functionalised with hydroxyl groups (f-MWCNT). Dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) was used as a cross-linker to prepare the green material from methylmethacrylate grafted starch (MMA-g-starch), soft wood flour and functionalised MWCNT. The functionalization of MWCNT was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Raman analysis. Different properties of the WSNC were investigated by varying the concentration of f-MWCNT. The prepared nanocomposites exhibited outstanding thermal stability, mechanical properties and water resistance capacity compared to untreated wood composites. The flammability of the wood composites decreased up to 30% with just addition of 0.50 phr f-MWCNT.