Study of nanocomposites based on cellulose nanoparticles and natural rubber latex by ATR/FTIR spectroscopy: The impact of reinforcement

Abstract

In materials research, polymer nanocomposites have attracted great attention worldwide from both academic and industrial points of view. The material properties of polymers can be enhanced dramatically by incorporating nanoelements from renewable resources depending on their biological origin (e.g., cellulose, starch, and chitin). We have used as the reinforcing phase, in this work, cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) to prepare nanocomposite films by casting/evaporation using natural rubber (NR) latex as the matrix. Our interest is focused, in this work, especially on the investigation of the chemical bonds of the NR matrix and the chemical links of nanowhiskers added to the matrix and therefore the physical and chemical interactions which could happen between the reinforcement and the matrix. Many techniques have been used to explore the interface. Among these techniques, attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR/FTIR), which is employed in this work. It is exhibited that some differences are observed in FTIR spectra of nanocomposite films when adding cellulose nanoparticles into NR matrix. Overall IR spectroscopy clearly demonstrated that the interfacial adhesion in the case of NR‐NFC nanocomposite is higher than that of NR‐CNW one which was explained by the presence of residual lignin at the NFC surface that play the role of “compatibilizing” agent that enhance the adhesion between the NFC and the NR. POLYM. COMPOS., 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers