Modification of the properties biobased thermoset resin using cellulose nano-whiskers (CNW) as an additive

The aim of this work was to study how the addition of cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) will affect the mechanical properties and rhelogical behaviour of the furfuryl alcohol (FFA) resin. The furfuryl alcohol is a biobased thermoset resin, based on sugarcane and it is water soluble and very brittle when cured. The used nanowhiskers were about 3 to 5 nm in diameter and around 200 nm in length. The nanocomposites were prepared by dispersion of aqueous nanowhisker suspensions (0.5, 1, 2, 3 wt%) in uncured resin using ultra sonication. The dispersion of CNW in FFA and the CNW-CNW as well as CNW-FFA interactions were studied through rheology measurements on neat FFA and FFA/CNW suspensions before curing. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to study the curing kinetics of the prepared materials. The material combinations were cured in different molds for further investigation, but also used as matrix for glass fiber composite. The nanocomposites were first pre-dried at room temperature in vacuum and then cured in an oven at 135°C and then post-cured in 100°C to remove the residual stresses from the materials. The time of each step of the curing cycle was determined for the each geometry. The cured composites microstructure was characterized with a scanning electron microscope. The nanocomposites thermo-mechanical properties were studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and flextural properties of the hybrid composites (glass fiber-fufuryl alchohol-cellulose nanowhiskers) were determined in longitudinal and transversal direction.Validerat; 20101217 (root