Enzymatically produced cellulose nanocrystals as reinforcement for waterborne polyurethane and its applications
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Date
2021-02Author
Alonso Lerma, Borja
Larraza Arocena, Izaskun
Barandiaran Larrea, Leyre
Ugarte Soraluce, Lorena
Saralegui Otamendi, Ainara
Corcuera Maeso, María Ángeles
Pérez Jiménez, Raúl
Eceiza Mendiguren, María Aranzazu
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Carbohydrate Polymers 254 : (2021) // Article ID 117478
Abstract
[EN] Waterborne polyurethanes (WBPUs) have been proposed as ecofriendly elastomers with several applications in coatings and adhesives. WBPU’s physicochemical properties can be enhanced by the addition of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The way CNCs are isolated has a strong effect on their properties and can determine their role as reinforcement. In this work, CNCs produced using ancestral endoglucanase (EnCNCs) were used as reinforcement for WBPU and compared with CNC produced by sulfuric acid hydrolysis (AcCNC). The enzymatic method produced highly thermostable and crystalline CNCs. The addition of small contents of EnCNCs improved the thermomechanical stability and mechanical properties of WBPUs, even better than commercial AcCNCs. Besides, WBPU reinforced by adding EnCNCs was studied as a coating for paper materials, increasing its abrasion resistance and as electrospun nanocomposite mats where EnCNCs helped maintaining the morphology of the fibers.