Morphology, thermal, and crystallization properties of poly(butylene succinate)‐grafted Nanocrystalline Cellulose by polymerization in situ

The compounds 1,4-butanediol, succinic anhydride, and nanocellulose (NCC) were used to synthesize poly(butylene succinate)-grafted Nanocrystalline Cellulose (PBS-g-NCC) nanocomposites via polymerization in situ. The resulting structures were examined by transmission electron microscopic (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), 1H and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. TEM showed the cellulose to be nanoscale and SEM analysis indicated that 3 wt% NCC dispersed well in PBS matrix. 1H and 13C-NMR analyses indicated the product to possess peaks characteristic of PBS. DSC analysis clearly showed that the NCC increased the PBS crystallinity when 3 wt% NCC was introduced into PBS matrixes by polymerization in situ, compared to pure PBS. TGA illustrated that the thermal stability of PBS-g-NCC was better than that of pure PBS, when 3 wt% NCC was added. XRD analysis suggested that 3 wt% NCC improved PBS crystallinity, which was in good agreement with the present DSC results. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:928–934, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers