Methyl cellulose/cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposite fibers with high ductility

TL;DR

This study develops environmentally friendly, high-ductility methyl cellulose/cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposite fibers via wet-spinning, achieving high strain and toughness with potential for continuous fiber production.

Contribution

It introduces a simple aqueous wet-spinning method for producing high-ductility MC/CNC nanocomposite fibers with optimized mechanical properties.

Findings

Optimal composition of 80/20 wt-%/wt-% MC/CNC yields high strain and toughness.

Fibers exhibit 36.1% strain and 48.3 MJ/m^3 toughness.

Potential for continuous fiber spinning demonstrated.

Abstract

Methylcellulose/cellulose nanocrystal (MC/CNC) nanocomposite fibers showing high ductility and high modulus of toughness were prepared by a simple aqueous wet-spinning from corresponding nanocomposite hydrogels into ethanol coagulation bath followed by drying. The hydrogel MC aq. concentration was maintained at 1 wt-% while the CNC aq. loading was systematically varied in the range 0 - 3 wt-%. This approach resulted in MC/CNC fiber compositions from 25/75 wt-%/wt-% to 95/5 wt-%/wt-%. The optimal mechanical properties were achieved with the MC/CNC composition of 80/20 wt-%/wt-% allowing high strain (36.1 %) and modulus of toughness (48.3 MJ/m^3), still keeping a high strength (190 MPa). Further, we demonstrate that the continuous spinning of MC/CNC fibers is potentially possible. The results indicate possibilities to spin MC-based highly ductile composite fibers from environmentally benign aqueous solvents.