@inproceedings{ee7cac5770c846599955f71820881b90,
title = "Cellulose-based anisotropic composites",
abstract = "In an attempt to improve the mechanical properties of an all-cellulose based composite we made solid flexible films containing macrocrystalline cellulose fibres produced by a shearing casting technique. To an anisotropic (liquid crystalline) solution of 2-hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) in N,N - dimethylacetamide (60 w/w %) were added AVICEL fibres (0, 2, 4, 6, 10, 12 w/wHPC %). After homogenization these solutions were poured into a Teflon plate and sheared at a constant rate of 5 mm/s. The cellulosic microfibres in the liquid crystalline polymer medium were partially aligned by shear flow. Mechanical and morphological properties of the films were investigated using tensile tests, polarized optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties of these films, as expected, are higher than those of the films produced from an isotropic solution of HPC The results show that the orientation of the microfibres, and the mesoscopic properties, can be tuned by adjusting the topography of the nematic matrix in the micro-nano scale.",
keywords = "Cellulose, Composites, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Liquid crystals",
author = "Borges, {J. P.} and Godinho, {M. H.}",
year = "2008",
month = dec,
day = "1",
doi = "10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.587-588.604",
language = "English",
series = "Materials Science Forum",
publisher = "Trans Tech Publications Ltd",
pages = "604--607",
editor = "Marques, {A. T.} and Silva, {A. F.} and Baptista, {A. P. M.} and C. S{\'a} and Alves, {F. J. L. A.} and Malheiros, {L. F.} and M. Vieira",
booktitle = "Advanced Materials Forum IV - Selected, peer reviewed papers from the 4th International Materials Symposium Materiais 2007 and 8th Encontro da Sociedade Portuguesa de Materiais - SPM",
note = "13th Conference of the Sociedade Portuguesa de Materiais/4th International Materials Symposium ; Conference date: 01-04-2007 Through 04-04-2007",
}