Modification of cellulose nanocrystals for polymer composites

Cellulose nanocrystals are a greener alternative to traditional nanomaterials. Thanks to their excellent mechanical properties, they have gained interest as a filler content for polymer composites. In this project, methods were successfully developed to produce cellulose nanocrystals from two Australian native wood sources including an acacia and eucalyptus. The project was then focused on developing chemical strategies to improve the hydrophobicity of produced nanocrystals. The addition of modified cellulose nanocrystals into epoxy polymer network and their enhancement for the mechanical properties of polymer composites were studied in detail.