Enzymatically produced cellulose nanocrystals as reinforcement for waterborne polyurethane and its applications

  • Borja Alonso-Lerma
  • , Izaskun Larraza
  • , Leire Barandiaran
  • , Lorena Ugarte
  • , Ainara Saralegi
  • , Maria Angeles Corcuera
  • , Raul Perez-Jimenez*
  • , Arantxa Eceiza*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number117478
JournalCarbohydrate Polymers
Volume254
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Feb 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cellulose nanocrystals
  • Enzymatic hydrolysis
  • Nanocomposite reinforcement
  • Waterborne polyurethane

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