Increased thermal stability of nanocellulose composites by functionalization of the sulfate groups on cellulose nanocrystals with azetidinium ions

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) prepared via sulfuric acid hydrolysis are decorated with sulfate groups that yield a stable water suspension. To make the CNCs adaptable for use in composites, the hydroxyl groups on the surface are usually hydrophobized. In this article, an alternative hydrophobization method is described in which the sulfate groups are conjugated with azetidinium salts. The results of this study show that the sulfate groups can be functionalized with azetidinium salts and from thermal studies, it was discovered that the functionalization led to a 100 °C increase in thermal stability, compared with unmodified CNCs. The nanocomposites prepared by extrusion of CNC‐coated low‐density polyethylene powder displayed similar mechanical properties as the CNC‐reference sample, but without the discoloration, due to the increased thermal stability. In conclusion, the azetidinium reagent reacts preferentially with sulfate groups, and this new type of chemical conversion of sulfate groups on polysaccharides will be beneficial in nanocomposite manufacturing. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45963.