Sains Malaysiana 44(6)(2015): 801–810

Effects of Silane Surface Treatment of Cellulose Nanocrystals on the Tensile Properties of Cellulose-Polyvinyl Chloride Nanocomposite

(Kesan Rawatan Permukaan Nanohablur Selulosa dengan Silana ke atas Sifat Regangan Nanokomposit Selulosa-Polivinilklorida)

RASHA M. SHELTAMI^1,2, HANIEH KARGARZADEH¹ & IBRAHIM ABDULLAH¹*

¹Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya

Received: 15 January 2014/Accepted: 15 November 2014

ABSTRACT

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from mengkuang leaves (Pandanus tectorius) were investigated as potential reinforcement in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix. The surface of CNC was modified with silane coupling agent to improve filler-matrix adhesion. Solution casting method was used to prepare PVC nanocomposites with various amounts of modified (SCNC) and unmodified (CNC) nanocrystals. Both SCNC and CNC were examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) which showed that surface chemical modification has occurred. An increase in tensile strength was observed with the addition of SCNC compared to the CNC. However, the elongation at break of the nanocomposites was found to decrease with the increase of both fillers loading. An increasing trend was observed in the tensile modulus with the addition of CNC to the PVC matrix, but decreasing with the addition of SCNC. The morphology of a fractured surface of nanocomposites showed silane modification reduced the number of voids in the structure of PVC. The observation indicated the adhesion between the fiber and the matrix had improved upon surface modification of the nanocrystals with silane.

Keywords: Cellulose nanocrystals; nanocomposite; poly(vinyl chloride); silane modification

ABSTRAK

Potensi nanohablur selulosa (CNC) daripada daun mengkuang (Pandanus tectorius) sebagai pengisi penguat bagi matriks polivinil klorida (PVC) telah dikaji. Permukaan CNC telah di rawat dengan agen pengkupel silana bagi meningkatkan lekatan pengisi-matriks. Nanokomposit PVC dengan pelbagai amaun selulosa terawat (SCNC) dan CNC telah disediakan secara larutan tuangan. Penelitian ke atas CNC dan SCNC yang dilakukan secara spektroskopi transformasi Fourier inframerah dan pembiasan X-ray (XRD) menunjukkan modifikasi kimia berlaku ke atas permukaan selulosa. Kekuatan regangan ketara meningkat dengan pertambahan SCNC berbanding CNC tetapi pemanjangan takat putus komposit menurun dengan pertambahan kedua-dua pengisi. Walau bagaimanapun berlaku tren peningkatan bagi modulus regangan dengan pertambahan CNC tetapi menurun dengan SCNC. Morfologi permukaan patah komposit menunjukkan rawatan silana mengurangkan bilangan rongga terjadi dalam matriks. Pemerhatian ini menunjukkan penambahbaikan dalam lekatan pengisi-matriks selepas rawatan permukaan dengan silana.

Kata kunci: Nanohablur selulosa; nanokomposit; polivinil klorida; rawatan silana

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*Corresponding author; email: dia@ukm.edu.my