Synthesis and characterization of cellulose-microfibril reinforced epoxy composite

Cellulose-microfibril reinforced epoxy composite (CMF/Epoxy) is synthesized and possibly considered as an alternative aircraft material. Specifically, the cellulose microfibrils are successfully prepared from coir by NaOH/H₂O₂ treatment and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). According to the SEM results, the chemical treatment can remove wax residual, hemicellulose, and lignin from the surface of the fibers, yielding the cellulose microfibrils with diameters of 15-20 μm. The XRD spectra show that the crystallinity of the cellulose microfibrils increases. The FTIR spectra suggest that their impurity contents on the surface are chemically reduced. The addition of 2% (w/w) cellulose microfirils into epoxy can dramatically increase the tensile modulus of the CMF/Epoxy by 40%.