Morphology of whiskers

Ultrasonic treatments [70] have the potential to change the morphology of the formed whiskers. When hydrolysis is carried out under ultrasonic treatment, a combination of both sulfuric and hydrochloric acids during the hydrolysis appears to generate spherical cellulose nanocrystals instead of rod like nanocrystal which are the typical morphology of whiskers. These spherical cellulose nanocrystals show better thermal stability mainly because they possess fewer sulfate groups on their surfaces [71]. 

The surface morphology of whiskers can be characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Elgures 3.19 and 3.20 show SEM images and EDS spectrum of potassium titanate whiskers treated with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). According to the SEM results, the surface of unmodified whiskers is smooth without attachments, while the surface of modified whiskers is rough with attachments. The EDS spectrum of modified whiskers shows the characteristic peak of carbon (C). Both SEM and EDS results prove that the whisker surface is cladded with PMMA molecules.35... 

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