Nanocellulose as Polymer Composite Reinforcement Material

Abstract

A composite consist of two or more constituent material with a significant difference in chemical and physical properties as compared to individual constituent material in it. Nevertheless the particular component also remains separate and distinct within the finished structure. There is a growing importance of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), due to its renewable nature, anisotropic shape, remarkable mechanical properties, excellent biocompatibility, tailorable surface chemistry, and unusual optical properties. Considering the versatile property of these CNCs and CNFs the present challenges with these composite are its generation from natural resources and its production in large scale, enhancing compatibility with hydrophobic polymers and achieving uniform dispersion in polymer matrices. In this chapter we discuss nanostructure as a composite material, a cheap and abundant source to replace as reinforcement compound. From source of section, isolation techniques and characterization of nanocellulose could be exploited to its advantage in polymer science as a promising reinforcement candidate. It is due to its intrinsic chemical nature, aspect ratio and degree of crystallinity.