Cellulose microfibril-reinforced polymers and their applications
First Claim
1. A composition comprising an amorphous thermoplastic polymer matrix and a cellulose filler, the cellulose filler having from 1% to less than 15% individualized cellulose microfibrils each formed of a series of microcrystals separated by zones of amorphous cellulose;
- said microfibrils having an average length greater than a micrometer, a diameter between about 2-30 nm, an aspect ratio greater than 60, and a degree of crystallinity greater than 20%;
wherein said microfibrils are selected from the group consisting of tunicin, algae with cellulose-containing walls, parenchymal, and mixtures thereof; and
wherein the glass transition temperature of the composition is substantially the same as said matrix but introduction of said microfibrils expresses an increase of relaxation modulus in dynamic mechanics, an increase of slope at the origin, in particular at high temperature, and an increase of stress equivalent to plasticity reversal point.
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Abstract
Cellulose microfibril reinforced polyers, corresponding latices, powders, films and rods, and uses thereof. Polymer/cellulose composites are prepared using individualized cellulose microfibrils with a high form factor, e.g., tunicin microfibrils, as the reinforcement. For this purpose, reinforced latices consisting of a polymer latex and a stable aqueous suspension of said microfibrils are used. Said polymers have a wide variety of uses, particularly in paints and nanocomposites.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A composition comprising an amorphous thermoplastic polymer matrix and a cellulose filler, the cellulose filler having from 1% to less than 15% individualized cellulose microfibrils each formed of a series of microcrystals separated by zones of amorphous cellulose;
- said microfibrils having an average length greater than a micrometer, a diameter between about 2-30 nm, an aspect ratio greater than 60, and a degree of crystallinity greater than 20%;
wherein said microfibrils are selected from the group consisting of tunicin, algae with cellulose-containing walls, parenchymal, and mixtures thereof; and
wherein the glass transition temperature of the composition is substantially the same as said matrix but introduction of said microfibrils expresses an increase of relaxation modulus in dynamic mechanics, an increase of slope at the origin, in particular at high temperature, and an increase of stress equivalent to plasticity reversal point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- said microfibrils having an average length greater than a micrometer, a diameter between about 2-30 nm, an aspect ratio greater than 60, and a degree of crystallinity greater than 20%;
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeElf Atochem S.A. (Arkema)
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Original AssigneeElf Atochem S.A. (Arkema)
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InventorsCavaille, Jean-Yves, Favier, Veronique, Chanzy, Henri, Ernst, Benoit
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Primary Examiner(s)Szekely, Peter A.
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Application NumberUS08/702,533Time in Patent Office1,383 DaysField of Search524/13, 524/14, 524/35US Class Current524/13CPC Class CodesC08J 5/045 with vegetable or animal fi...C08L 1/02 Cellulose; Modified celluloseC08L 101/00 Compositions of unspecified...C08L 2205/16 Fibres; FibrilsC08L 2666/26 Natural polymers, natural r...C08L 33/06 of esters containing only c...
