Study surface modified nanocellulose whiskers in coconut shell

Abstract

The nanocellulose whiskers degraded by coconut shell were modified by silane coupling agent (KH-570). The structure, morphology and dispersibility of modified nanocellulose whiskers were characterized and analyzed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and sedimentation. The results showed that the modified nanocellulose whiskers have been changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, and could be dispersed uniformly in ethanol without agglomeration because silane coupling agent reacts with hydroxyl groups on the surface of nanocellulose whiskers. The study showed that the crystallinity of nanocellulose whiskers were decreased with the increase of the content of coupling agent. Experiment also indicated that both of dispersibility and crystallinity could reached optimism when the amount of coupling agent is 2%. Finally, the mechanism of chemical reaction of coupling agent modified nanocellulose whisker in coconut huskwas estabilished by comparison of molecular structure of KH-570, modification process and the infrared spectrum of nanocellulose whiskers.