Effect of shear forces on dispersion-related properties of microcrystalline cellulose-reinforced EVOH composites for advanced applications

Georg Graninger; Sandeep Kumar; Graham Garrett; Brian G. Falzon

doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2020.106103

Effect of shear forces on dispersion-related properties of microcrystalline cellulose-reinforced EVOH composites for advanced applications

Georg Graninger, Sandeep Kumar^*, Graham Garrett, Brian G. Falzon

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

72 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Recently, inexpensive and readily available bio-renewable microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has been explored as a filler to mechanically reinforce thermoplastic matrices. Most research focuses on surface modification of MCC to improve dispersion in the polymer matrix. Herein, two screw configurations (low shear (LS) and high shear (HS)) were designed for twin-screw extrusion to investigate the effect of shear, during processing, on the dispersion of MCC particles in an ethylene–vinyl alcohol (EVOH) matrix. The results demonstrate the significance of the high shear screw configuration on the size of MCC particles, and their in-situ fibrillation and distribution within the EVOH matrix. HS mixing of EVOH/MCC resulted in a significant increase in flexural strength and storage modulus compared to EVOH/MCC (LS) composites, similar to property improvement in EVOH/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) composites at the same loading, thus providing an alternative to energy-intensive CNC in continuous melt processing without an appreciable rise in production costs.

Original language	English
Article number	106103
Journal	Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
Volume	139
Early online date	18 Sep 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2020.106103
Publication status	Published - 01 Dec 2020

Keywords

A. Cellulose
B. Mechanical properties
D. Electron microscopy
E. Extrusion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ceramics and Composites
Mechanics of Materials

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Effect of shear froces on dispersion-related properties of MCC reinforced EVOH
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Cite this

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title = "Effect of shear forces on dispersion-related properties of microcrystalline cellulose-reinforced EVOH composites for advanced applications",

abstract = "Recently, inexpensive and readily available bio-renewable microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has been explored as a filler to mechanically reinforce thermoplastic matrices. Most research focuses on surface modification of MCC to improve dispersion in the polymer matrix. Herein, two screw configurations (low shear (LS) and high shear (HS)) were designed for twin-screw extrusion to investigate the effect of shear, during processing, on the dispersion of MCC particles in an ethylene–vinyl alcohol (EVOH) matrix. The results demonstrate the significance of the high shear screw configuration on the size of MCC particles, and their in-situ fibrillation and distribution within the EVOH matrix. HS mixing of EVOH/MCC resulted in a significant increase in flexural strength and storage modulus compared to EVOH/MCC (LS) composites, similar to property improvement in EVOH/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) composites at the same loading, thus providing an alternative to energy-intensive CNC in continuous melt processing without an appreciable rise in production costs.",

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author = "Georg Graninger and Sandeep Kumar and Graham Garrett and Falzon, {Brian G.}",

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T1 - Effect of shear forces on dispersion-related properties of microcrystalline cellulose-reinforced EVOH composites for advanced applications

AU - Graninger, Georg

AU - Kumar, Sandeep

AU - Garrett, Graham

AU - Falzon, Brian G.

PY - 2020/12/1

Y1 - 2020/12/1

N2 - Recently, inexpensive and readily available bio-renewable microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has been explored as a filler to mechanically reinforce thermoplastic matrices. Most research focuses on surface modification of MCC to improve dispersion in the polymer matrix. Herein, two screw configurations (low shear (LS) and high shear (HS)) were designed for twin-screw extrusion to investigate the effect of shear, during processing, on the dispersion of MCC particles in an ethylene–vinyl alcohol (EVOH) matrix. The results demonstrate the significance of the high shear screw configuration on the size of MCC particles, and their in-situ fibrillation and distribution within the EVOH matrix. HS mixing of EVOH/MCC resulted in a significant increase in flexural strength and storage modulus compared to EVOH/MCC (LS) composites, similar to property improvement in EVOH/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) composites at the same loading, thus providing an alternative to energy-intensive CNC in continuous melt processing without an appreciable rise in production costs.

AB - Recently, inexpensive and readily available bio-renewable microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has been explored as a filler to mechanically reinforce thermoplastic matrices. Most research focuses on surface modification of MCC to improve dispersion in the polymer matrix. Herein, two screw configurations (low shear (LS) and high shear (HS)) were designed for twin-screw extrusion to investigate the effect of shear, during processing, on the dispersion of MCC particles in an ethylene–vinyl alcohol (EVOH) matrix. The results demonstrate the significance of the high shear screw configuration on the size of MCC particles, and their in-situ fibrillation and distribution within the EVOH matrix. HS mixing of EVOH/MCC resulted in a significant increase in flexural strength and storage modulus compared to EVOH/MCC (LS) composites, similar to property improvement in EVOH/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) composites at the same loading, thus providing an alternative to energy-intensive CNC in continuous melt processing without an appreciable rise in production costs.

KW - A. Cellulose

KW - B. Mechanical properties

KW - D. Electron microscopy

KW - E. Extrusion

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DO - 10.1016/j.compositesa.2020.106103

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VL - 139

JO - Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing

JF - Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing

SN - 1359-835X

M1 - 106103

ER -

Effect of shear forces on dispersion-related properties of microcrystalline cellulose-reinforced EVOH composites for advanced applications

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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