Nanocellulose-Based Polymer Composites Functionalized with New Gemini Ionic Liquids

Abstract

The manuscript discusses the application of dimeric imidazolium ionic liquids with an aliphatic linker of different lengths, constituting a new class of compounds called gemini, for the modification of renewable materials. This innovative functionalization with the use of ionic liquids made it possible to obtain polymer composite nanomaterials with renewable fillers, which will reduce the consumption of petroleum-based raw materials and also be directly related to the reduction of energy intensity. Renewable filler in the form of nanocellulose modified with ionic liquids, as well as polymer composites with such filler obtained by extrusion and injection molding techniques, were subjected to detailed characterization using techniques like: X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR), dispersion studies (DLS), morphological analysis (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hot-stage polarized light microscopy and characterization of mechanical properties. The use of innovative dimeric ionic liquids proved to be an effective method to carry out efficient functionalization of cellulose. This provided a stable space structure between polysaccharide particles, limiting aggregate formation. It was shown that chemical modification with ionic liquids has a significant effect on the nucleation activity of cellulose fillers and the formation of the supermolecular structure of the polymer matrix, which consequently allowed to obtain polymer composites with excellent strength characteristics and increased flexibility, which will allow to increase their application potential. Innovative ionic liquids have contributed to obtaining green nanomaterials with excellent functional properties, which have not been described in the literature so far.