Wet-spinning of cellulose acetate reinforced with acetylated nano-crystalline cellulose as carbon fibre precursors

Abstract

The search precursors that are bio-based, renewable and biodegradable has attracted significant attention due to increased environmental awareness. Recently, nano-crystalline cellulose (NCC) has been considered as a potential precursor to produce carbon fibre owing to its high crystallinity and excellent mechanical properties. However, its crystallinity prevents it from being dissolved in comment solvents. The main aims of this study were: (i) to acetylate NCC to improve its compatibility with cellulose acetate and (ii) to produce wet-spun cellulose acetate fibres reinforced acetylated and unacetylated NCC. In this study, rod-like particles of NCC with diameters in the range 2.0-4.8 nm and lengths of 46-114 nm were characterised using a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The carbonyl (C=O) group of the acetyl group was confirmed using Fourier Transmission Infrared (FTIR), and the crystallinity of NCC was characterised using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The crystallinity indicates of the NCC before and after acetylation were 78% and 68% respectively. The morphology of wet-spun cellulose acetate reinforced acetylated NCC was smoother than reinforced NCC. The acetylation on NCC increased its compatibility with the polymer matrix.