Enhancement of Hydrophobic Properties of Cellulose Fibers via Grafting with Polymeric Epoxidized Soybean Oil

Abstract

We report on an efficient method for the formation of modified cellulose-based materials with enhanced hydrophobic properties, formed by grafting with polymeric epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) as a renewable, environmentally friendly, and low cost raw material. The grafting process occurred via ring-opening polymerization, wherein the cellulose hydroxyl groups acted as initiators in the presence of a SnCl 4 catalyst, linking the cellulose fibers and ESO via ether linkages, thereby forming a polymeric matrix. The surface polarity was therefore decreased by the substitution of cellulose hydroxyl groups for long-chain hydrophobic alkane moieties from ESO. The water contact angle of modified filter paper reached 145.1°w ith the surface free energy decreasing to 22.07 mJ m −2 and a hydration free energy of −13.09 mJ m −2 . The presence of polymeric ESO nanoparticles on the modified cellulose fibers suggested that the hydrophobicity was not only dependent on the surface composition but was also closely related to the surface morphology. To reveal the effects of surface morphology on hydrophobicity, smooth cellulose films anchored to mica plates via PVAm with a surface roughness of 1.698 nm were prepared by spin coating and modified with ESO. The thus-formed modified cellulose films also contained polymeric ESO nanoparticles which increased their roughness and enhanced their hydrophobic properties.

Preparation and Characteristics of Biocomposites Based on Steam Exploded Sisal Fiber Modified with Amphipathic Epoxidized Soybean Oil Resin

“…This indicated that the surface of ESOCA resin was hydrophilic. However, SEC biocomposites still exhibited low water absorption, as the long hydrophobic alkyl chains of ESOCA resin prevented significant amounts of water from entering [ 29 ]. There was a significant improvement in water contact angle of all SEC biocomposites, compared with that of the SESF.…”

Opportunities for the Use of Brazilian Biomass to Produce Renewable Chemicals and Materials

“…It is possible to react cellulose with ESO to create a new hydrophobic material. In this reaction, the OH groups in the cellulose structure attack the epoxide rings in the presence of anhydrous stannic chloride [104] . A new polymeric adhesive with flame‐retardant properties was synthesized by Wang et al.…”

Bio-Based Epoxy Resin from Epoxidized Soybean Oil

“…Interestingly, the long chain alkane fatty acid residues in ESO can give the composites hydrophobicity, so cross-linked ESO can also work as a water-resistant film for paper that the obtained composites may be competitive in the field of packaging considering their good properties [113]. An efficient method has been reported for the formation of cellulose-based materials grafting with poly epoxidized soybean oil (PESO) with controllable hydrophobic properties [114] 1-2. A kind of PESO coated paper composites with good water-resistant property have been obtained via in situ polymerization of ESO on the surface of the paper cellulose fibers [113].…”