Generation of shish -kebab crystal structure of HDPE using cellulose nanofibers

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K13787
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Polymer/Textile materials
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Yano Hiroyuki 京都大学, 生存圏研究所, 教授 (80192392)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: セルロースナノファイバー / ポリエチレン / HDPE / 伸び切り鎖結晶 / 複合材料 / 溶融混練 / 射出成形

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Six systematically designed chemical structures were incorporated to study cellulose nanofiber surface design for polymer reinforcement. The CNFs were melt extruded with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and injection molded to evaluate their mechanical reinforcing efficiency. Although the pivaloylated CNFs show poor dispersibility in HDPE, the reinforcing efficiencies of the Young’s modulus and tensile strength, as well as linear thermal expansion, are higher for pivaloylated CNFs than for other chemically modified CNFs. Transmission electron microscopy observation of pivaloylated-CNF-reinforced HDPE revealed that extended HDPE crystal chains were generated and an orderly folded crystal of HDPE chains grew from the extended HDPE crystal chains, as well as the surface of CNFs (double shish -kebab structure), after injection molding.

Free Research Field

木質科学