Isolation and Characterisation of Cellulose Nanowhiskers from Microcrystalline Cellulose Using Mechanical Processing

In this study, the production of cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) by a mechanical grinding process in a super mass colloider was evaluated. MCC and CNW samples were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The stress/strain characterisation of the films was performed by dynamic mechanical equipment. The morphological analysis showed the formation of a nanowhiskers/nanoscale structure in the CNW sample. The FTIR analysis of the CNW sample showed absorption band that is characteristic of cellulose. The XRD analysis indicated a small decrease in the crystallinity index and crystallite size, although the cellulose type-I structure was maintained. No changes were observed in the thermal stability of the CNW sample after the mechanical grinding process until 350 °C. A greater increase in the Young modulus was observed for the CNW sample.