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Sunflower oil-based MCC surface modification to achieve improved thermomechanical properties of a polypropylene composite

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Abstract

A biobased approach was taken to endow microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) with surface hydrophobicity using sunflower oil biodiesel (sunflower oil fatty acid ethyl esters, SFEEs) and thereby improve the compatibility with a hydrophobic polypropylene (PP) matrix. This environmentally friendly green chemistry approach introduces a monomolecular long-chain fatty acid layer on the MCC surface, making the surface hydrophobic. However, as per the X-ray Diffraction results, this surface modification process had no effect on the crystal structure of MCC. The inclusion of surface-modified MCC in the PP matrix significantly improves the thermomechanical properties of the composite. The tensile, impact and hardness properties of the surface-treated fiber reinforcements were improved by 11%, 71%, and 23%, respectively, compared to those of nonreinforced PP. The thermal stability also was improved considerably by the incorporation of modified MCC into PP.

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Modified and unmodified composites were prepared as per Table 3 (see MCC–PP composite preparation)

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Modified and unmodified composites were prepared as per Table 3 (see MCC-PP composite preparation)

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the Department of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the University of Moratuwa, for providing facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka

    W. S. M. Rathnayake

  2. Department of Polymer Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka

    L. Karunanayake

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Katubedda, Moratuwa, 10400, Sri Lanka

    A. M. P. B. Samarasekara & D. A. S. Amarasinghe

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  1. W. S. M. Rathnayake
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  2. L. Karunanayake
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  3. A. M. P. B. Samarasekara
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Rathnayake, W.S.M., Karunanayake, L., Samarasekara, A.M.P.B. et al. Sunflower oil-based MCC surface modification to achieve improved thermomechanical properties of a polypropylene composite. Cellulose 27, 4355–4371 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03053-5

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