Preparation and characterization of waterborne cellulose emulsion based on nitrocellulose modified with acrylic copolymer

A novel environmental-friendly waterborne nitrocellulose (WNC) emulsion was prepared by self-emulsifying method, using nitrocellulose as a base materials, acrylic acid, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and isophorone diisocyanate as raw materials, and the structure was analyzed by FTIR. The properties of films formed by WNC emulsion were investigated by SEM, TGA, and TEM. The water resistance and tensile properties of the films were also investigated. The results indicated that WNC emulsion particle dispersed in water has a core–shell structure as expected. In addition, WNC films synthesized were smooth and hydrophobic with average water contact angle of 114.6°. Moreover, the WNC films showed the better tensile properties than that of NC films with acrylic copolymer introduced into WNC films. The novel WNC emulsion is promising to broaden the applications in some field.