Author(s)

G. Vargas, J. Trifol, I. Algar, A. Arbelaiz, G. Mondragon, S. C. M. Fernandes, F. Mujika & I. Mondragon

Abstract

A better understanding of the relation between structure and function of cellulose-based hierarchical materials could provide the opportunity for developing new multi-functional composite materials and for designing nanostructured materials structurally optimised, by using biodegradable renewable reinforcing materials. In this paper, recent advances in our Group relating to the study of nanocomposites reinforced with natural cellulose nano-entities, from both vegetal and bacterial sources, are presented. Extraction process of cellulose nanofibres and whiskers as well as composite manufacturing process is expounded. Two composite systems are considered: one based on vegetal cellulose whiskers and another based on bacterial cellulose nanofibres. Presented results are related with morphology, thermal behaviour, mechanical properties, and optical performance of those hierarchical nanocomposites. Keywords: nanocomposites, cellulose nano-entities, vegetal cellulose, bacterial cellulose. 1 Introduction Some botanical structures have an extraordinary mechanical behaviour combining high stiffness and high strength due to, among other reasons, the hierarchical arrangement of their structural parts: the ligno-cellulosic bundles. In general terms, those botanical structures are composed of semicrystalline cellulose-based sclerenchymatous stiff nanofibres bonded by a soft polymeric

Keywords

nanocomposites, cellulose nano-entities, vegetal cellulose, bacterial cellulose.