Synergy of silane and polyacrylate treatments to prepare thermally stable and hydrophobic cellulose nanocrystals

Abstract

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were modified by surface grafting with silane and polyacrylate without disturbing the material morphologies. The modified CNCs exhibited improved hydrophobicity and thermal stability as a consequence of the grafted material on CNCs surface as well as the displacement of sulfate half-ester groups.