Evaluation of cellulose nanocrystals obtained via acid-free hydrolysis (subcritical water) for application in polymer composites

• Grant number: 16/07370-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Antonio José Felix de Carvalho
• Grantee: Lísias Pereira Novo
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently, there is a great demand for the use of sustainable materials and reactions. In this context, the use of cellulose nanocrystals as reinforcement in composite materials stands out. However, some problems related to the main method of nanocrystals production and the processes of composite materials production. The current processes to hydrolyze cellulose are carried out in high concentrated sulfuric acid media. Thus, large amounts of inorganic acid and water, for washing the nanocrystals, are used. This aspect makes the process impractical considering an industrial upsizing. In this sense, the hydrolysis process using subcritical water shows great potential in the obtaining of cellulose nanocrystals. However, these nanocrystals 2 differ from the classical nanocrystals obtained by hydrolysis with sulfuric acid for the lack of ionizable groups on its surface been practically neutral. The main idea of this project is to escape from common sense to seek to modify the cellulose nanocrystals to their use in composites, but seek different preparation methodologies and matrices. Thus, it is proposed to use techniques which use water as the primary vehicle for obtaining composite materials such as destabilizing technique nonpolar polymer emulsion, aiming an industrial application. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

NOVO, LISIAS P.; CURVELO, ANTONIO A. S.. Hansen Solubility Parameters: A Tool for Solvent Selection for Organosolv Delignification. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, v. 58, n. 31, p. 14520-14527, AUG 7 2019. (16/07370-6)

NOVO, LISIAS PEREIRA; DA SILVA CURVELO, ANTONIO APRIGIO; FELIX CARVALHO, ANTONIO JOSE. Nanocomposites of acid free CNC and HDPE: Dispersion from solvent fat driven by fast crystallization/gelation. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS, v. 266, p. 233-241, SEP 15 2018. (16/07370-6)