Recent developments in montmorillonite and sepiolite filled regenerated cellulose nanocomposites: characterizations and properties

Abstract

In recent years, the development of environmentally friendly materials obtained from renewable resources has attracted enormous attention due to the new sustainable development policies. Cellulose is a readily available, naturally occurring biodegradable and biocompatible linear polysaccharide. Recently, room temperature ionic liquids have been used as solvents to produce regenerated cellulose (RC) due to their attractive properties such as good chemical and thermal stability, low flammability, low melting point and ease of recycling. Polymer/nanofiller nanocomposites are believed to have strong potential to widen polymer applications due to its enhanced performance. It is also widely accepted that the incorporation of small amount of nanofiller (less than 5 wt.%) into bio-based matrices results in nano-biocomposite materials with enhanced mechanical, permeability and thermal properties. Montmorillonite (MMT) has a nanosized layered structure with large surface area thus providing sufficient interfacial regions in polymer nanocomposite. Besides, the needle like fibers based, natural hydrous magnesium silicate sepiolite has also been investigated due to its high surface area, unique geometry and its ability to form the hydrogen bonding with polymers as well as to disperse well in the matrix. This chapter aims to highlight the effect of the addition of two different types of nanofillers such as organically modified MMT and sepiolite to produce RC nanocomposites, on selected properties.