Processing and characterization of new thermoset nanocomposites based on cellulose whiskers

In the present study, the processing and the mechanical properties of new thermoset nanocomposites prepared from aqueous suspensions of microcrystalline cellulose fillers and epoxy are described. The nature of cellulose fibers, which display a large aspect ratio and the ability to associate by means of H-bonds implies that the processing method chosen in this study avoids the problem of a high level of viscosity of the epoxy reactive system-whiskers mixture. The reinforcing effect of this type of natural fiber in an epoxy matrix is mainly shown from the dynamic mechanical properties in the rubbery state. This unusual reinforcement is due to (i)the strong interactions existing between the cellulose whiskers and the epoxy network and, (ii)the creation of a percolating network linked by H-bonds between cellulose fibers. The existence of such a ercolation effect is evidenced from the analysis of the rubbery shear modulus of nanocomposites based on various volume fractions of whiskers with mechanical modeling such as Halpin-Kardos and percolation approaches.