Prehydrolyzed Cellulose as Reinforcing Filler for Thermoplastics

TLDR: The main feature of prehydrolyzed cellulose fibres is a high degree of brittleness, permitting the fibres to be finely comminuted in the shear field of normal compounding and processing machinery as discussed by the authors.

Abstract: This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the mechanical properties of composites consisting of prehydrolyzed cellulose and thermoplastic matrices. The main feature of prehydrolyzed cellulose fibres is a high degree of brittleness, permitting the fibres to be finely comminuted in the shear field of normal compounding and processing machinery. Such an effect can be anticipated to improve the homogeneity and the mechanical parameters of the moulded samples. In the present work, this has been demonstrated with PP, HDPE and PS containing varying amounts of prehydrolyzed cellulose of different origin (bleached pulps). The tests were done on injection moulded samples. The compounding method (Buss-Kneader vs. twin-screw extruder) had only minor influence on the results. Theoretical assessment of the modulus values using the Tsai–Halpin equation gave somewhat lower values than those recorded on experimental samples. This was interpreted in terms of the disintegration of the cellulose co...