Biocomposite from Epoxidized Soybean Oil and Microfibrilled Cellulose

Naokichi Imai (Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University Suita 565-0871)
Antonio Norio Nakagaito (Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University Uji 611-0011)
Hiroyuki Yano (Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University Uji 611-0011)
Hiroshi Uyama (Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University Suita 565-0871)

Wood Research Journal : Journal of Indonesian Wood Research Society
Vol 4, No 1 (2013): Wood Research Journal

In this study, a biocomposite consisting of an oil-based network polymer and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) have been prepared and its mechanical and thermal properties have been evaluated. Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) was impregnated in a mat of MFC, followed by the acid-catalyzed curing of ESO to produce the biocomposite. SEM observation shows the good dispersion of the cellulose fiber in the oil-based network polymer. The Young's modulus and tensile strength of the biocomposite were much superior to those of the ESO homopolymer and these values increased as a function of the MFC content in the biocomposite. The storage modulus (E’) of the biocomposite in the rubbery region was also larger than that of the ESO homopolymer.