Biobased Green Nanocomposites

A new type of biobased material was synthesized from cellulose nano whiskers (CW) and furfuryl alcohol by employing in-situ polymerization method to produce polyfur-furyl alcohol (PFA)/cellulose nanocomposites without the use of solvents or surfactants. Furfuryl alcohol (FA) played a dual role, serving both as an effective dispersant for the cellulose whisker (CW) and as the matrix precursor for the in-situ polymerization. The filler, CW also served multiple functions, by first catalyzing the polymerization of FA, and then acting as an effective matrix modifier, increasing the thermal stability of the consolidated PFA nanocomposite. The polymerization was catalyzed by sulfonic acid residues at the CW surface left over from the whisker preparation [67]. 

6 Effect of In-Situ Polymerization on Biodegradation Behavior of Cellulose Nanocomposites 

Thus suitable chemical modification of nanocellulosic fillers and their incorporation in a synthetic matrix like PMMA by in-situ polymerization proved to be an effective method to make them more environmentally friendly and partly degradable [69]. 

The high strength and stifihess as well as the small dimensions of nanocellulose may well impart useful properties to composite materials reinforced with them, which could subsequently be used in wide range of applications such as biomedical, paper and packaging, construction, automotive, furniture, electronics, pharmacy, cosmetics, consumer 

The research and process development by Innventia [70] in recent times has resulted in a sharp drop in the energy requirement for manufacturing nanocellulose in the last few years. With new pre-processing methods, they have lowered the energy consumption 

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Wang, R., Schuman, T., Vuppalapati, R.R., Chandradhekhara, K., 2014. Fabrication of biobased epoxy-clay nanocomposites. Green Chemistry 16, 1871—1882. 

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