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  • Cellulose microfibrils grafted with PBA via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization for biocomposite reinforcement.

Cellulose microfibrils grafted with PBA via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization for biocomposite reinforcement.

Biomacromolecules (2011-07-30)
Shuzhao Li, Miaomiao Xiao, Anna Zheng, Huining Xiao
ABSTRACT

Immobilizing poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) on cellulose microfibrils (CMFs) by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of butyl acrylate (BA) on the surface of 2-bromoisobutyryl-functionalized CMF generated highly hydrophobic microfibrils (CMF-PBA) with a hard core and a soft-shell structure. TGA and static water contact angle results suggested that the surfaces of the modified CMF samples were not completely covered by PBA chains until the molecular weight of grafts became sufficiently long. The GPC results indicated that the grafts with low molecular weight showed controlled/"living" characteristics of the surface-initiated ATRP; however, there existed more side reactions with the increase in molecular weights. Biocomposites consisting of polypropylene (PP) and CMF-PBA samples exhibited significantly improved compatibility, interface adhesion, and mechanical properties with the increase in PBA graft length. The findings confirmed that the longer grafts facilitated the better entanglement of PBA grafts with PP macromolecules and thus further improved the mechanical properties.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Supelco
Butyl acrylate, analytical standard
Sigma-Aldrich
Butyl acrylate, ≥99%, contains 10-60 ppm monomethyl ether hydroquinone as inhibitor
Sigma-Aldrich
Butyl acrylate, SAJ first grade, ≥99.0%