Nacre-inspired composite paper of PVA crosslinked basalt scale and nanocellulose with enhanced mechanical, electrical insulating and ultraviolet-resistant aging performance

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2024-02, Vol.257 (Pt 1), p.128602-128602, Article 128602
• Main Authors: Song, Shunxi, Wu, Qi, Ji, Dexian, Li, Linghao, Wang, Qianyu, Zhang, Meiyun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: basalt; Basalt scales; cellulose; Cellulose nanofiber; Composite paper; crosslinking; Electrical insulating; insulating materials; nacre; nanofibers; silicates; tensile strength; Ultraviolet-resistant aging
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128602

Silicate scales are commonly incorporated into cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as functional fillers to enhance electrical insulation and UV-shielding properties. Nevertheless, the addition of substantial quantities of silicate scales in the quest for enhanced functional properties results in reduced interface bonding capability and compromised mechanical properties, thereby restricting their application. Here, inspired from nacre, layered composite paper with excellent mechanical strength, electrical insulation and UV-resistance properties was fabricated through vacuum assisted self-assembly using CNF, PVA and basalt scales (BS). Unlike the conventional blending strategy, the pre-mixed PVA and BS suspension facilitates the formation of Al-O-C bond, thereby enhancing the interfacial bonding between BS and CNF. Consequently, the composite paper (BS@PVA/PVA/CNF) containing 60 wt% BS demonstrates higher mechanical strength—approximately 140 % higher than that of BS/CNF composite paper, achieving a strength of 33.5 MPa. Additionally, it demonstrates enhanced dielectric properties, surpassing those of CNF paper by up to 107 %. Moreover, it exhibits robust ultraviolet-resistant aging performance, retaining ~87 % of its tensile strength after undergoing a simulated two-year aging period. As a result, this work presents a simple and innovative design strategy for enhancing interfacial bonding and optimizing layer structure, providing essential guidelines for large-scale production of high-performance insulation and aging-resistant composite paper. •Nacre-like composite paper were prepared with CNF, PVA and basalt scales.•Pre-coated PVA on basalt scales improved interfacial bonding.•Basalt scales dispersion exhibited good uniformity owing to PVA.•PVA crosslinked basalt scale and CNF increased mechanical performance.•Orderly distribution of basalt scales enhanced electrical insulation and aging resistance.