Tough nanocomposite hydrogels from cellulose nanocrystals/poly(acrylamide) clusters: influence of the charge density,aspect ratio and surface coating with PEG

Cellulose-derived materials are usually characterized by sophisticated structures, leading to unique and multiple functions, which have been a source of inspiration for the fabrication of a wide variety of nanocomposites. Cellulose nanocrystals/poly(acrylamide) (CNCs/PAM) nanocomposite hydrogels were synthesized via in situ polymerization in the CNC suspension. The cellulose from pulp fiber under different sulfuric acid hydrolysis conditions, examined by conductometric titration and transmission electron microscopy, was applied to study how the effects of the surface charge and aspect ratio affect CNCs’ mechanical reinforcement in nanocomposites. The results indicated that the higher surface charge concentration resulted in better dispersibility in aqueous suspension, leading to a more efficient energy dissipation process. The CNC reinforcement behavior followed the percolation model where the greater aspect ratio of CNC contributed to higher mechanical properties. The preferential adsorption of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on the CNC surface was characterized by zeta potential measurements where the fracture strength and fracture elongation of nanocomposites decreased with increasing PEG concentration. The adsorption of PEG on the CNC surface occupied the active sites for polymer chain propagation, which hindered the PAM cross-linking effect on the CNC surface and decreased the cross-linking density of the network.     

Ionic strength effects on the microstructure and shear rheology of cellulose nanocrystal suspensions

The effect of ionic strength on the rheology and microstructure of Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) aqueous suspensions are studied over a broad range of CNC (3–15 wt%) and NaCl concentrations (0–15 mM), using polarized optical microscopy combined with rheometry. The CNC suspensions are isotropic at low concentration and form chiral nematic liquid crystalline structure above a first critical concentration and gel above a second critical one. It has been shown that for isotropic CNC suspensions, increasing the ionic strength of the system up to 5 mM NaCl concentration weakens the electro-viscous effects and thus reduces the viscosity of these suspensions. For biphasic samples, which contain chiral nematic liquid crystal domains, increasing the ionic strength up to 5 mM NaCl concentration decreases the size of the chiral nematic domains, and leads the viscosity of the samples at low shear rates to increase. On the other hand, at high shear rates, where all the ordered domains are broken, the viscosity decreases with NaCl addition. For gels, the addition of NaCl up to 5 mM weakens the gel structure and decreases the viscosity. Further addition of NaCl (10 and 15 mM NaCl concentrations) results in extensive aggregation and de-stabilizes the CNC suspensions.     

Dynamic rheology studies of in situ polymerization process of polyacrylamide–cellulose nanocrystal composite hydrogels

A series of dynamic small-amplitude oscillatory shear experiments for in situ polymerization process of polyacrylamide–cellulose nanocrystal (PAM–CNC) nanocomposite hydrogels were performed to investigate the relationship between rheological properties and synthesis parameters including chemical cross-linker concentration, polymerization temperature, initiator concentration, and CNC aspect ratios. The results showed that CNCs accelerated the onset of gelation (t _onset) and acted as a multifunctional cross-linker during the gelation reaction. The composite hydrogels exhibited enhanced steady-state elastic modulus ( G_￥￠ ) \left( {G_\infty^\prime } \right) and plateau loss factor (tanδ) compared to these of the pure PAM hydrogels, indicating that adding CNCs not only reinforced but also toughened PAM hydrogels. ( G_￥￠ ) \left( {G_\infty^\prime } \right) and the effective network junction density (N) increased with increased cross-linker concentration, polymerization temperature, and CNC aspect ratios, but decreased with increased initiator concentration. The changes of plateau tanδ were opposite to that of G_￥￠ G_\infty^\prime . The sol–gel transition kinetics of PAM–CNC hydrogels accelerated with increased cross-linker concentration and polymerization temperature and, however, reached optimization at 0.25 wt% of initiator concentration. CNCs with lower aspect ratios promoted t _onset and the sol–gel transition of PAM–CNC hydrogels, suggesting the fact that CNCs with lower aspect ratios further facilitated the formation of network of PAM–CNC nanocomposite hydrogels.     

Effect of oligosaccharide deposition on the surface of cellulose nanocrystals as a function of acid hydrolysis temperature

Recent findings indicate there is only a small window of sulfuric acid concentration (60–65 %) and temperature (45–65 °C) which allows efficient extraction of cellulose nanocrystals in significant quantities from bleached chemical pulp. In the present report, we develop a systematic explanation for how hydrolysis temperature, at a specific acid concentration, governs CNC surface properties. We demonstrate that CNCs with different suspension viscosity, stability in electrolyte-containing solutions, and optical properties can be produced, based on the presence or not of a precipitated oligosaccharide layer (OSL) on the surface of the nanocrystals. At hydrolysis temperatures below 65 °C, the degree of polymerization (DP) distribution of cellulose chains in CNC samples exhibits a bimodal distribution, indicating an accumulation of oligosaccharides on the CNC surface which increases as the hydrolysis temperature is decreased. At low hydrolysis temperature (45 °C), the oligosaccharides dissolved in the strong acid phase have a DP between 7 and 20 and precipitate onto CNCs when the reaction is quenched by diluting with water. As the temperature of hydrolysis is increased (50–60 °C), the dissolved oligosaccharides are hydrolyzed faster and their DP decreases such that they remain soluble after quenching. At 65 °C, no precipitated oligosaccharides can be detected on the CNC surface. Based on these results, we propose possible explanations to account for the effects of the OSL on the CNC suspension viscosity and stability and on optical properties of CNC films.     

Intrinsic viscosity of aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanofibrils

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) from wood fibers are of increasing interest to industry because they are from renewable sources and are biodegradable. Owing to their high aspect ratio, they produce viscous suspensions and stiff gels that are strengthened by interfibrillar hydrogen bonds. In this study, the viscosity of aqueous CNF suspensions, at dilute concentrations ( \(nL^{3}<1\) ), was measured at various pH values by addition of HCl, and at various ionic strengths by addition of NaCl and \(\hbox {CaCl}_{2}\) . The results show that the primary electroviscous effect significantly increases the intrinsic viscosity. The intrinsic viscosity under conditions where the surface charge of nanofibrils is fully screened is in good agreement with the predictions of classical theory for dispersions of rodlike particles at low shear rates. Increasing the ionic strength up to \(\kappa d\approx 1\) decreases the intrinsic viscosity; at \(\kappa d>1\) , the intrinsic viscosity increases because of fibril aggregation and increase of the effective volume fraction.     

A DFT study on structural stability and electronic property of VIIIB transition metal-doped carbon nanocaps

Carbon nanocap (CNC) was selected for the systems doped with VIIIB transition metal (TM) atoms. The geometrical structures and electronic properties of TM-doped CNCs were calculated using the density functional theory method. It was found that TM atoms can interact with CNC to form TM–CNC complexes, which corresponded with the large partial charge transfer. All of molecular orbitals of TM–CNC complexes were localized in vicinity doping site. The density of states of these TM-doped CNCs were exhibited mostly metallic or narrow–gap semiconductor.     

Rheological behavior of silica suspensions in aqueous solutions of associating polymer

Associating polymers are hydrophilic long-chain molecules containing a small amount of hydrophobic groups. The aqueous solutions show viscoelastic responses above some critical concentrations because a three-dimensional structure is formed by association of hydrophobic groups. When the associating polymers are added to silica suspensions at low concentrations, the flocculation is induced by bridging mechanisms, and the flow of suspensions become shear-thinning. For suspensions prepared with polymer solutions in which the associating network is developed, the viscosity decreases, shows a minimum, and then increases with increasing particle concentration. The viscosity decrease may arise from the breakdown of associating network due to adsorption of polymer chains onto the silica surfaces. As the particle concentration is increased, the polymer concentration in solution is decreased, and finally, all polymer chains are adsorbed on the surfaces. Beyond this point, the partial coverage of particle surfaces takes place and strong interactions are generated between particles by polymer bridging. Since the stable suspensions are converted to highly flocculated systems, the viscosity is increased and the flow becomes shear-thinning. The concentration effect of silica particles on the viscosity behavior of suspensions can be explained by a combination of viscosity decrease in solution due to polymer adsorption and viscosity increase due to flocculation.     

表面官能团化增强碳纳米笼超级电容器性能

以具有多级孔结构、高比表面积、良好导电性等特征的碳纳米笼（CNCs）为前体,采用硝酸氧化法在CNCs表面引入含氧官能团。以CNCs为超级电容器电极材料,在相同电流密度下,官能团化样品的比电容显著高于纯CNCs;在1A·g^-1下比电容最高可达到255F·g^-1,比纯CNCs的188F·g^-1增加了34%,这表明表面含氧官能团化能够显著提高CNCs的超级电容器比电容。在100A·g^-1的大电流密度下,硝酸氧化后CNCs的比电容保持在111~167F·g^-1,表明具有良好的耐大电流充放电性能。在10A·g^-1的电流密度下循环10000圈后,CNC-6M样品的比电容由196F·g^-1下降到176F·g^-1,样品的比电容仍保留90%,具有良好的循环稳定性。表面含氧官能团化CNCs所表现出的这种优异的超级电容器性能归因于CNCs的多尺度分级孔结构、高比表面积、良好的导电性、表面亲水性含氧官能团化带来的浸润性提高和引入的赝电容。     

Rheology of Dilute Suspensions of Hard Platelike Colloids

The concentration dependence of the viscosity is studied for suspensions of approximately hard, i.e., short-range repulsive, platelets. We combine rheological measurements on suspensions of sterically stabilized platelike colloids with dissipative particledynamics simulation for disks. This yields, for the first time, results for the intrinsic viscosity of (nearly) hard plate suspensions, as well as the second- and third-order φ (platelet volume fraction) coefficients in the viscosity. The intrinsic viscosity is used to calculate the number-average aspect ratio of the platelets, which is found to be 6.5 and 12 respectively for the two suspensions studied. The measured Huggins coefficients are intermediary between the theoretical value for hard spheres and hard rods. The combined results from viscosity measurements and simulations provide insight into the effect of Péclet number, particle model, and polydispersity on the viscosity of approximately hard platelet suspensions. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Ensemble evaluation of polydisperse nanocellulose dimensions: rheology,electron microscopy,X-ray scattering and turbidimetry

Six types of CNCs with different sizes were prepared from tunicins by sulfuric acid hydrolysis and subsequent sonication in water. The size distributions of CNCs were comprehensively evaluated by turbidimetry, small angle X-ray scattering, and microscopy to predict their intrinsic viscosities. Experimental intrinsic viscosities [η] of the CNC dispersions were evaluated by shear viscosity measurement, and then compared with their theoretical [η] values based on theories for rotational motions of rigid rods. The experimental [η] values for the straight CNCs were in good agreement with their theoretical [η] values, irrespective of the size and distributions. On the other hand, the experimental [η] value of the kinked CNC was higher than the theoretical [η] value, in agreement with a theoretical calculation giving higher intrinsic viscosities for bent fibers.     

Changes in polyvinylpyrrolidone coil dimensions by complexation with organic anions: effect of chain length

Changes in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coil dimensions by complexation with small organic anions were studied by dilure solution viscometry Intrinsic viscosity provides a convenient measure of the dimensions assumed by a flexible polymer chain in solution as a result of interactions with all components in its environment. Molecular interactions between PVP and sodium benzoate and salicylate were investigated over a range of low concentrations of each anion, from 2.5 to 90 mM, and as a function of five molecular weight grades of PVP. This study showed that both contraction and expansion of polymer coils were sensitive to the concentration and chemical structure of the cosolute. In addition, at high anion concentrations changes in polymer conformation by complexation were dependent on both the chain length of PVP and charge density of bound anions through excluded volume effects. Experimental results demonstrating these observations are presented in a three-dimensional surface plot of intrinsic viscosity ratio, polymer size, and anion concentration. A distinct local minimum in the surface plane was exhibited for each cosolute.     

聚丙烯酸在纳米TiO2表面吸附行为的研究

讨论了聚丙烯酸在纳米TiO₂水悬浮体系中的吸附行为.红外光谱分析和吸附实验结果表明,纳米TiO₂通过氢键吸附PAA.PAA吸附量随着浓度的升高而增大直至饱和吸附量,且分子量越大,饱和吸附量越大.pH值增大,则饱和吸附量减小.在相同条件下,表面吸附层的厚度随PAA分子量、浓度和pH值增大而增大.这是由PAA在颗粒表面构型的变化所致.吸附PAA后的纳米TiO₂的表面电荷密度和ζ电位发生变化,pHiep值向低值方向移动.表面吸附自由能的计算结果说明,PAA在纳米TiO₂表面的吸附是自发过程.     

Influence of Electrolytes on the Thixotropy of Ferric Aluminum Magnesium Hydroxide‐Montmorillonite Suspensions

Abstract

The thixotropy of suspensions consisting of ferric aluminum magnesium hydroxide (Fe‐Al‐Mg‐MMH) and Na‐montmorillonite (MT) is examined with special emphasis on the influence of electrolytes. When NaCl or MgCl₂ is added into the Fe‐Al‐Mg‐MMH/MT suspension, the thixotropy of the suspension may change (if positive) from positive and complex into negative, but NaCl or MgCl₂ can't alter the thixotropic type of a negatively thixotropic suspension. When AlCl₃ was added to positive thixotropic system can be transformed to a complex one, whereas a complex and negative thixotropic suspension remains unchanged, for additions less than 0.01 mol/L; when the addition level of AlCl₃ increases, all types of thixotropic systems are changed to non‐thixotropic. In addition, NaCl and MgCl₂ make the initial viscosity measured after cessation of intensive shearing increase, but the value of the viscosity decreased rapidly with time. The equilibrium viscosity of the suspension decreased gradually with increasing concentrations of NaCl and MgCl₂ in the suspension. With increasing concentration of AlCl₃, the equilibrium viscosities of the positive thixotropic suspension and the complex thixotropic suspension increase at first, but decrease later, and the equilibrium viscosity of negative thixotropic suspensions decrease gradually.     

Cellulose nanocrystals obtained from microcrystalline cellulose by p-toluene sulfonic acid hydrolysis,NaOH and ethylenediamine treatment

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were first isolated from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) by p-toluene sulfonic acid (p-TsOH) hydrolysis. Cellulose II nanocrystal (CNC II) and cellulose III nanocrystal (CNC III) were then formed by swelling the obtained cellulose I nanocrystal (CNC I) in concentrated sodium hydroxide solutions and ethylenediamine (EDA) respectively. The properties of CNC I, CNC II and CNC III were subjected to comprehensive characterization by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results indicated that CNC I, CNC II and CNC III obtained in this research had high crystallinity index and good thermal stability. The degradation temperatures of the resulted CNC I, CNC II and CNC III were 300 °C, 275 °C and 242 °C, respectively. No ester bonds were found in the resulting CNCs. CNCs prepared in this research also had large aspect ratio and high negative zeta potential.

     

pH-responsive non-surface-active/surface-active transition of weakly ionic amphiphilic diblock copolymers

The weakly ionic amphiphilic diblock copolymer polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) was synthesized by nitroxy radical-mediated living radical polymerization with precise control of block length, block ratio, and polydispersity. Systematical surface tension experiments and foam formation observations revealed that this polymer was non-surface active under neutral and alkaline (pH 10) conditions, while it was surface active under an acidic condition (pH 3). This result supports our proposed origin of non-surface activity; the image charge repulsion at the air/water interface is essential in addition to very stable micelle formation in the bulk solution. At a higher pH (pH 12), the polymer showed slight surface activity since the added NaOH played a role as an added salt. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) was estimated by static light scattering. Cmc increased with increasing added salt (NaCl) concentration as was observed for other strongly ionic non-surface-active polymers. Hence, this trend is characteristic for non-surface-active polymers. The pH dependence of cmc was minimum at pH 8–10. Since the acrylic acid block is fully ionized under this condition, the strong image charge repulsion at this condition accelerated micelle formation at a low polymer concentration, which consequently decreased cmc. Micelles in bulk solution were confirmed by dynamic light scattering, and the salt concentration and pH dependencies of the hydrodynamic radius of the micelles were also estimated. The pH-responsive non-surface-active/surface-active transition observed in this study strongly supports the fact that the image charge repulsion is an essential factor for non-surface activity in addition to stable micelle formation in solution.     

Comparative properties of cellulose nano-crystals from native and mercerized cotton fibers

Stable aqueous suspensions of cellulose nano-crystals (CNCs) were fabricated from both native and mercerized cotton fibers by sulfuric acid hydrolysis, followed by high-pressure homogenization. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and wide-angle X-ray diffraction data showed that the fibers had been transformed from cellulose I (native) to cellulose II (mercerized) crystal structure, and these polymorphs were retained in the nanocrystals, giving CNC-I and CNC-II. Transmission electron microscopy showed rod-like crystal morphology for both types of crystals under the given processing conditions with CNC-II having similar width but reduced length. Freeze-dried agglomerates of CNC-II had a much higher bulk density than that of CNC-I. Thermo-gravimetric analysis showed that CNC-II had better thermal stability. The storage moduli of CNC-II suspensions at all temperatures were substantially larger than those of CNC-I suspensions at the same concentration level. CNC-II suspensions and gels were more stable in response to temperature increases. Films of CNC and Poly(ethylene oxide) were tested. Both CNC-I/PEO and CNC-II/PEO composites showed increased tensile strength and elongation at break compared to pure PEO. However, composites with CNC-II had higher strength and elongation than composites with CNC-I.     

聚电解质溶液性质的研究 Ⅱ.在有外加盐存在下聚电解质溶液的粘性行为

采用恒定外加盐浓度稀释法,测定了磺化聚砜钠盐在含不同浓度硝酸钠的二甲基甲酰胺中的粘度。根据实验数据处理,导出了如下的经验公式:式中第一项表示无外加盐时比浓粘度和浓度的关系,第二项表示有外加盐时对于比浓粘度的改正项。按照这个经验公式,可以很好地预期外加盐浓度不同时对比浓粘度曲线的影响。经验式还明显地表示了试样的特性粘数与外加盐浓度的关系。     

Rheological behavior of highly loaded cellulose nanocrystal/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite suspensions

Recent emphasis on the pilot scale production of cellulosic nanomaterials has increased interest in the effective use of these materials as reinforcements for polymer composites. An important, enabling step to realizing the potential of cellulosic nanomaterials in their applications is the materials processing of CNC/polymer composites through multiple routes, i.e. melt, solution, and aqueous processing methods. Therefore, the objective of this research is to characterize the viscoelastic behavior of aqueous nanocomposite suspensions containing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and a water-soluble polymer, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Specifically, small amplitude oscillatory shear measurements were performed on neat PVA solutions and CNC-loaded PVA suspensions. The experimental results indicated that the methods used in this study were able to produce high-quality nanocomposite suspensions at high CNC loadings, up to 67 wt% with respect to PVA. Additionally, the structure achieved in the nanocomposite suspensions was understood through component attributes and interactions. At CNC loadings near and less than the percolation threshold, a polymer mediated CNC network was present. At loadings well above the percolation threshold, a CNC network was present, indicated by limited molecular weight dependence of the storage modulus. Overall, these results provide increased fundamental understanding of CNC/PVA suspensions that can be leveraged to develop advanced aqueous processing methods for these materials.     

Rheology,crystallization behavior,and mechanical properties of poly(butylene succinate-co-terephthalate)/cellulose nanocrystal composites

A series of biodegradable poly (butylene succinate-co-terephthalate) (PBST) with different aromatic units content was synthesized and then melt blended by adding cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to manufacture the full organic composites. A network-like structure of CNCs in PBST matrix was evaluated by rheometer. The storage modulus and complex viscosity at low frequency region were significantly enhanced with increasing CNC content. Meanwhile, the decreasing $\tan \delta$ and flow index were attributed to the excellent interaction between PBST and CNCs. When PBST has a content of the aromatic unit exceeds 30 mol%, the crystallization temperatures increased with increasing CNC contents. On the other hand, when PBST has 30 mol% content of the aromatic unit, the cold crystallization temperatures decreased with increasing CNC contents. These above observation in crystallization properties suggested that the CNC make a role of heterogeneous nucleation in PBST matrix. The result of mechanical properties evaluated by dynamic mechanical analysis showed a good reinforcement effect of the addition of stiff CNC. The PBST/CNC composites were suitable for cell growth and might have a potential as biomedical materials, which is confirmed by MTT assay.     

Flow properties of freshly prepared ettringite suspensions in water at 25 degrees C

The rheology of a complex, heterogeneous mineral colloid was rationalised using models devised for model rod systems. Mixing a calcium hydroxide slurry with an aluminium sulphate solution produces a suspension of rod-shaped ettringite particles. Ettringite rod suspensions exhibit non-Newtonian flow behaviour, which depends on the shape of the particles, their size distribution, concentration and surface properties as well as the suspension medium characteristics. We have measured the shear viscosity of suspensions of ettringite rods with a median aspect ratio, r(i) approximately 8, at 25 degrees C as a function of particle volume fraction, phi, in the range 0.0001-0.08. It was found that the viscosity of the suspensions increased with phi, and showed a marked change of slope at phi approximately 0.01, which we identified as the minimum overlap concentration phi(*). Above phi(*), the system is in the semi-dilute regime. At phi>phi(*), when Pe(rot)>1, hydrodynamic interactions between rods become increasingly significant, and we observe shear-thinning behaviour. The high effective hydrodynamic volume of rotating rods, resulting in much lower values of the maximum packing fraction, phi(c), than for spheres, dominates the rheological behaviour of ettringite suspensions.