Morphology,thermal, and crystallization properties of poly(butylene succinate)‐grafted Nanocrystalline Cellulose by polymerization in situ

The compounds 1,4‐butanediol, succinic anhydride, and nanocellulose (NCC) were used to synthesize poly(butylene succinate)‐grafted Nanocrystalline Cellulose (PBS‐g‐NCC) nanocomposites via polymerization in situ. The resulting structures were examined by transmission electron microscopic (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), ¹H and ¹³C‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. TEM showed the cellulose to be nanoscale and SEM analysis indicated that 3 wt% NCC dispersed well in PBS matrix. ¹H and ¹³C‐NMR analyses indicated the product to possess peaks characteristic of PBS. DSC analysis clearly showed that the NCC increased the PBS crystallinity when 3 wt% NCC was introduced into PBS matrixes by polymerization in situ, compared to pure PBS. TGA illustrated that the thermal stability of PBS‐g‐NCC was better than that of pure PBS, when 3 wt% NCC was added. XRD analysis suggested that 3 wt% NCC improved PBS crystallinity, which was in good agreement with the present DSC results. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:928–934, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers