Bionanocomposites of regenerated cellulose reinforced with halloysite nanoclay and Graphene nanoplatelets: Characterizations and properties

Abstract

In recent years, the development of environmentally friendly materials obtained from renewable resources has attracted immense interest 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 enhanced performance. It is also widely accepted that the incorporation of small amount of nanofiller (less than 5 wt%) into bio-based matrixes to produce nano-biocomposite materials with enhanced mechanical, permeability, and thermal properties. The tubular silica-based naturally occurring nanofiller, halloysite nanotubes (HNT), has been investigated due to its high surface area, unique geometry, and its potential to make the hydrogen bonding with polymers to disperse well in the matrix. Graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) have also attracted enormous attention among polymer engineers over the last few years due to its unique electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Single layer twodimensional GNP sheet is considered as the strongest material along with the high surface area and aspect ratio. The chapter aims to highlight the effect of the addition of two different types of nanofillers such as HNT and GNP to produce RC nanocomposites on selected properties.