Cellulose nanocrystal as ecofriendly stabilizer for emulsion polymerization and its application for waterborne adhesive

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 229; p. 115504
• Main Authors: Mabrouk, Ayman Ben, Dufresne, Alain, Boufi, Sami
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adhesive; Cellulose; Chemical Sciences; Emulsion polymerization; Material chemistry; Nanocomposite; Nanocrystal; Polymers; Waterborne; Nanocomposite; Emulsion polymerization; Adhesive; Nanocrystal; Cellulose; Waterborne
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115504

•Vinyl acetate was polymerized using CNC via soap-free emulsion polymerization.•The locus of CNCs depends on the co-monomer additive.•Polyethylene glycol methacrylate favors attachment of CNC onto the polymer particle.•Waterborne adhesive for wood with enhanced mechanical strength was obtained. Soap-free emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate (AVM) in the presence of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was performed using persulfate/metabisulfite as initiator. The effect of the addition of MPEG comonomer on the locus of CNCs with respect to polymer particles was investigated. It was shown that the presence of MPEG strongly favors the accumulation of CNCs on the polymer particle thus contributing to a stabilization of polymer particle through Pickering effect. The rheological properties of the dispersion as well as the reinforcing effect of CNCs were also meaningfully affected by the presence of MPEG. For purpose of application, the polyvinyl acetate (PVA)/CNC nanocomposite dispersion was used as binder to produce PVA-based waterborne adhesive for wood. This open the way to produce high-value one pot nanocomposite dispersion ready for use, free from any surfactant likely to be used for waterborne adhesive or coating with higher mechanical performance.