Functionalization of cellulose nanocrystals using catechol primers and hydrophobes for extended applications in non-polar media

纤维素纳米晶(CNCS)是一种可持续的纳米颗粒，可以从加拿大森林的木材纤维中经济地提取出来--这是一种丰富的可再生资源。碳纳米管具有令人印象深刻的物理和机械性能，并且是无毒和可生物降解的。碳纳米管在涂料、包装、食品、化妆品和复合材料等产品中具有潜在的应用前景，但由于碳纳米管是亲水性的，与大多数非极性材料不相容，限制了碳纳米管的应用。为了防止碳纳米管聚集并改善其在有机溶剂、疏水聚合物、纤维和泡沫中的分散性，需要对其进行疏水表面功能化。该项目将通过我们团队最近开发的一种简单的水基功能化路线的修改版本来生产疏水性CNCS。目前，该方法使用单宁酸(一种含儿茶酚基团的植物多酚作为引发剂)和癸胺(一种人工合成的烷基胺疏水剂)。改进和优化后的方法将更加绿色和可扩展，并将导致功能化后的碳纳米管疏水性更强，变色更少。将研究新的含儿茶酚的底漆和自然来源的疏水物质。BC Research在加拿大全国范围内扩大CNC生产方面发挥了重要作用，并继续活跃在这一领域。他们和他们的客户需要一种疏水性的数控系统来生产增强数控系统的商业产品。因此，该项目的成功完成将为BC Research打开新的产品和市场机会，从而为BC Research带来显著的经济效益。开展这项工作将对加拿大的林业和清洁技术部门产生重大的经济影响，并将开发新材料，从而在加拿大创造就业机会和新的制造举措。

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are sustainable nanoparticles which can be economically extracted from the wood fibres of Canada's forests - an abundant and renewable resource. CNCs have impressive physical and mechanical properties and are non-toxic and biodegradable. CNCs have potential applications in a broad range of products, including paints, packaging, food, cosmetics and composites but they are limited by the fact that CNCs are hydrophilic and incompatible with most non-polar materials. In order to prevent CNCs from aggregating and to improve their dispersion in organic solvents and hydrophobic polymers, fibres and foams, hydrophobic surface functionalization is required. This project will produce hydrophobic CNCs through a modified version of a straightforward water-based functionalization route recently developed in our group. Currently, the method uses tannic acid (a plant polyphenol with catechol groups as the primer) and decylamine (a synthetic alkylamine hydrophobe). The improved and optimized method will be "greener" and scalable and will lead to CNCs that are more hydrophobic with less discoloration after functionalization. New catechol-containing primers and naturally-sourced hydrophobes will be investigated.BC Research has been instrumental in the scale-up of CNC production across Canada and continues to be active in this area. They, and their customers, need a hydrophobic CNC to produce CNC-enhanced commercial products. As such, successful completion of this project will have significant economic benefits for BC Research by opening up new product and market opportunities. The impact of carrying out this work will be economically significant for Canada's Forestry and Cleantech sectors and will develop new materials that will lead to job creation and new manufacturing initiatives in Canada.