Surface modification of cellulose fibres

Abstract

A review. Several approaches to the modification of cellulose fibers are described, namely: (i) phys. treatments such as corona or plasma treatments under different atmospheres; (ii) grafting with hydrophobic mols. using well-known sizing compds.; (iii) grafting with bi-functional mols., leaving one of the functions available for further exploitation; and (iv) grafting with organometallic compds. The modified surfaces were characterized by elemental anal., contact angle measurements, inverse gas chromatog., X-ray photoelectron and IR spectroscopy, wettability, etc. These different tools provided clear-cut evidence of the occurrence of chem. reactions between the grafting agent used and the hydroxy functions of the cellulose surface, as well as of the existence of covalent bonding in the ensuing composite materials between the matrix and the fibers through the use of doubly reactive coupling agents.