Chapter 3. Manufacturing of Cellulose Nanoparticle-based Advanced Materials

Cellulose has been a valuable raw material throughout humankind's journey for advancement and technology as a food, fuel, paper, and cloth. The mechanical properties of cellulose nanoparticles and the quest to replace petro-based polymers with sustainable resources have heightened researchers’ interest in cellulose. Cellulose nanoparticles are mostly used as fillers in polymer matrices where they improve desirable properties such as tensile modulus and fatigue resistance among others. In this chapter, important applications of cellulose nanoparticles as reinforcements in several polymers are discussed, along with methods for the fabrication of polymer/cellulose composites which include solution casting, melt compounding, impregnation, electrospinning, freeze-drying, and polymer latex matrices. The mechanical improvement associated with impregnation of cellulose nanoparticles in polymers and functionality is also highlighted.