Preparation of cellulose nanofibers and their improvement on ultradrawing properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene nanocomposite fibers

Abstract

Novel ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/cellulose nanofiber (CNF) (F100CNFy) and UHMWPE/modified cellulose nanofiber (MCNFx) (F100MCNFxy) as‐prepared nanocomposite fibers were successfully prepared by gel‐spinning F100CNFy and F100MCNFxy gel solutions, respectively. CNF nanofillers with a specific surface area at 120 m2/g and a nanofiber diameter of 20 nm were successfully prepared by proper acid hydrolysis of cotton fibers using sulfuric acid solution. MCNFx nanofillers were prepared by grafting various contents of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PEg‐MAH) onto CNF nanofillers. The ultimate σf value of the best‐prepared F100MCNFxy drawn fiber reached 4.5 GPa, which is about 67% higher than that of the UHMWPE drawn fiber prepared without the addition of any nanofiller. To understand the interesting ultradrawing, orientation, and tensile properties of F100CNFy and F100MCNFxy fibers, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopic analyses of the CNF and MCNFx nanofillers, and scanning electron microscopic analyses of profile surfaces of the etched drawn fibers were performed. This is the first work in this area of research wherein very small amounts of MCNFx nanofillers prepared from cotton fibers were efficiently used as nucleating agents to enhance the ultradrawing and ultimate tensile properties of F100MCNFxy fibers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Porous Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene/Functionalized Activated Nanocarbon Composites with Improved Biocompatibility

“…Detailed experimental procedures for preparation of FANC x were reported in our previous investigations [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. The superscript x denotes the weight ratio of PE-g-MAH to ATANC used in the preparation processes of FANC x particles, and the values of x were 5, 10, 12.5, 15, and 20.…”

“…Therefore, some investigations found that hydroxyapatite [ 23 , 24 ], graphene [ 15 , 25 ], chitosan [ 26 , 27 ] and bioactive glass [ 28 ] can significantly improve the Young’s modulus, shear modulus, hardness, friction coefficient, or osteogenic properties of the porous UHMWPE. In contrast to hydroxyapatite, graphene, chitosan, or bioactive glass, as a commercial nanoparticle, activated nanocarbons (ANCs) with many hydrophilic active groups on their surface could be commonly used as the reinforcing filler for polymer [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. However, ANCs are hydrophilic with the water-soluble units, and they are difficult to evenly disperse in hydrophobic UHMWPE during the fabrication process.…”

“…However, ANCs are hydrophilic with the water-soluble units, and they are difficult to evenly disperse in hydrophobic UHMWPE during the fabrication process. We found that functionalized activated nanocarbons (FANCs) prepared by grafting maleic anhydride polyethylene (PE-g-MAH) onto acid-treated activated nanocarbons (ATANCs) can be evenly in UHMWPE, which can improve the hydrophilicity and mechanical properties of UHMWPE composite [ 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Thermoplastic starch and glutaraldehyde modified thermoplastic starch foams prepared using supercritical carbon dioxide fluid as a blowing agent

“…Common purity CO 2 (≥90.0%) was purchased from Wuhan Xiangyun Industry Corporation, Wuhan, China. Detailed experimental procedures for preparation of CNF were described in our previous investigation . The CNF nanofillers have a specific surface area of 120 m 2 /g and a diameter of approximately 20 nm.…”

Multiple‐stage drawn ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/activated carbon fibers prepared with the assistance of supercritical CO2

“…[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] The ultradrawing and ultimate tensile properties of single-stage drawn UHMWPE nanocomposite fibers were favorably influenced by the specific surface areas of the well-dispersed nanofillers. [33] Among these nanofillers, the SA sp of some commercially available activated nanocarbon (ANC) particles are ≥1000 m 2 /g, [33] which are the highest SA sp available in the present market of all nanofillers. The achievable DR and σ t of the most proper single-stage drawn UHMWPE/ functionalized ANC (FANC) fiber reached very high values of 400 and 8.1 GPa.…”