Review of recent research into cellulosic whiskers, their properties and their application in nanocomposite field

• There are numerous examples where animals or plants synthesize extracellular high-performance skeletal biocomposites consisting of a matrix reinforced by fibrous biopolymers. Cellulose, the world's most abundant natural, renewable, biodegradable polymer, is a classical example of these reinforcing elements, which occur as whiskerlike microfibrils that are biosynthesized and deposited in a continuous fashion. In many cases, this mode of biogenesis leads to crystalline microfibrils that are almost defect-free, with the consequence of axial physical properties approaching those of perfect crystals. This quite "primitive" polymer can be used to create high performance nanocomposites presenting outstanding properties. This reinforcing capability results from the intrinsic chemical nature of cellulose and from its hierarchical structure. Aqueous suspensions of cellulose crystallites can be prepared by acid hydrolysis of cellulose. The object of this treatment is to dissolve away regions of low lateral order so that the water-insoluble, highly crystalline residue may be converted into a stable suspension by subsequent vigorous mechanical shearing action. During the past decade, many works have been devoted to mimic biocomposites by blending cellulose whiskers from different sources with polymer matrixes.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biokemi och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Biodegradation

Biopolymers

Biosynthesis

Cellulose

Crystal whiskers

Hydrolysis

Nanostructured materials

Biocomposites

Biodegradable polymers

Cellulose crystallites

Polymer matrices

Macromolecules

acid hydrolase

biopolymer

biodegradability

biogenesis

chemical structure

crystal structure

nanotechnology

priority journal

protein polymorphism

protein synthesis

review

Crystallization

Suspensions

Cellulose Whiskers

Animalia

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)