Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) has taken center stage as a future material with high specific strength, specific modulus and environmentally friendly behavior. However, natural CNFs are so randomly oriented that once CNFs are used in composites, their mechanical properties are not the same as expected from the CNFs. Thus, CNF alignment is important in fabricating composites and fibers. Interestingly, CNFs have negative diamagnetic anisotropy. In the presence of high magnetic field, the fiber axis of CNF can be aligned perpendicular to the applied field. This paper reports a preliminary study of CNF alignment by high dc magnetic field. The CNF emulsion is prepared by aqueous counter collision method and centrifugation. The CNF emulsion is placed in the high dc magnet and cured for a certain time. The alignment of CNF is investigated by scanning electron microscopy, mechanical tensile test.

Date Published: 17 April 2017
PDF: 4 pages
Proc. SPIE 10167, Nanosensors, Biosensors, Info-Tech Sensors and 3D Systems 2017, 101670H (17 April 2017); doi: 10.1117/12.2259830

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 10167:
Nanosensors, Biosensors, Info-Tech Sensors and 3D Systems 2017
Vijay K. Varadan, Editor(s)