PROCESS FOR HYDROPHOBIC MODIFICATION OF NANOCELLULOSE DURING MANUFACTURING
Modified nanocellulose particle include a nanocellulose particle, a binder coating the particle, and an alkyl amine affixed to the binder coating. A method of modifying nanocellulose particles includes adding a binder and a hydrophobizing agent to a slurry of nanocellulose particles in water, modifying the nanocellulose particles with the binder and hydrophobizing agent, and collecting the modified nanocellulose particles.
1 . A method of modifying nanocellulose particles, comprising:
adding a binder and a hydrophobizing agent to a slurry of nanocellulose particles in water;
adjusting a pH of the slurry to a pH in the range of 7.5 to 9;
modifying the nanocellulose particles with the binder and hydrophobizing agent; and
collecting the modified nanocellulose particles, wherein the modified nanocellulose particles exhibit a water contact angle, measured in air, in the range of 70 to 130 degrees.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein nanocellulose particles are present in the slurry in the range of 0.5 percent by weight solids to 15 percent by weight solids.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobizing agent is alkyl amine.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the alkyl amine is added to the slurry in an amount in the range of 0.5 to 5 times the weight of the nanocellulose.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the alkyl amine is represented by the following formula:
CH3—(CH2)n—NH2,
wherein n is in the range of 0 to 19.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the alkyl amine is dodecyl amine.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the alkyl amine is hexadecyl amine.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the binder is added to the slurry in an amount in the range of 1% to 10% by weight of the nanocellulose solids.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the binder forms a coating around the nanocellulose particles.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the hydrophobizing agent is affixed to the binder coating on the nanocellulose particle.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the binder is selected from a polyphenol, a polydopamine, or a combination thereof.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified nanocellulose particles are collected by washing and filtering the modified nanocellulose particles.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the collected, modified nanocellulose particles are dried at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 120° C. for a time period in the range of 1 hour to 24 hours.
14 . A modified nanocellulose particle, comprising:
a nanocellulose particle;
a binder coating the particle; and
a hydrophobizing agent affixed to the binder coating,
wherein the modified nanocellulose particle exhibit a water contact angle, measured in air, in the range of 70 to 130 and the modified nanocellulose particle is combined with a polymer matrix material exhibiting a water contact angle, measured in air, in the range of 70 to 130 degrees.
15 . The modified nanocellulose particle of claim 14 , wherein the hydrophobizing agent is alkyl amine.
16 . The modified nanocellulose particle of claim 15 , wherein the alkyl amine is represented by the following formula:
CH3—(CH2)n—NH2,
wherein n is in the range of 0 to 19.
17 . The modified nanocellulose particle of claim 15 , wherein the alkyl amine is selected from dodecyl amine, hexadecyl amine, or combinations thereof.
18 . The modified nanocellulose particle of claim 15 , wherein the binder is selected from a polyphenol, a polydopamine or a combination thereof.
19 . The modified nanocellulose particle of claim 14 , wherein the binder is tannic acid.
20 . A method of manufacturing a composite, comprising:
combining a modified nanocellulose particle having a water contact angle, measured in air, in the range of 70 to 130 degrees, and a polymer matrix material having a water contact angle, measured in air, in the range of 70 to 130 degrees, wherein the modified nanocellulose particle includes
a nanocellulose particle,
a binder coating the particle; and
an alkyl amine affixed to the binder coating.