Liquid crystal behavior of cellulose nanoparticles‐ethyl cellulose composites: Preparation, characterization, and rheology

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2021-03, Vol.138 (12), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Basta, Altaf H., Lotfy, Vivian F., Micky, Jehane A., Salem, Aya M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonium peroxodisulfate; applications; Aspect ratio; biomedical applications; biopolymers and renewable polymers; Cellulose; cellulose and other wood products; Composite materials; Crystal structure; Ethyl cellulose; Liquid crystals; Materials science; Nanoparticles; optical and photovoltaic applications; Polymers; Production methods; Rheological properties; Rheology; Sulfuric acid; Transmission electron microscopy; Zeta potential
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.50067

This work deals with assessing the approach for preparation of cellulose nanoparticles (CNPs) to be acted as synergistic component in liquid crystal (LC) ethyl cellulose composite (EC‐CNPs). In this respect different structures of CNPs were prepared by acid and salt agents. These prepared CNPs were characterized by carboxyl content, IR, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and zeta potential, while their composites with EC were characterized by rheological measurements as a key factor for measuring the critical concentration of LC behavior. The results showed that, the crystallinity of CNPs obtained by ammonium persulfate exceeded that prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. TEM images of stained CNPs showed both methods led to produce nanoparticles have rod like shape with aspect ratio (L/W) between 7.69 ± 3 and 31.3 ± 5. For the rheological measurements, it demonstrated the efficient of incorporating the CNPs to EC (EC‐CNPs composites) to decrease the critical concentration of EC from 40 wt% to approximately 34 wt%.