Projects per year
Abstract
We report the effect of cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) addition on the structural assembly of silica nanoparticles (NPs) within a nanocellulose fibre matrix. Paper like composites are fabricated by first forming complexes of NPs with CPAM, then adding those to a suspension of nanocellulose fibres; followed by filtration, pressing and drying of the final suspension. Complementary small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and microscopy (SEM, TEM) investigations of these composites showed a lognormal bimodal distribution of NP sizes. Data analysis allows understanding interparticle interactions within assemblies of SiO2 NPs at the nanometer scale with respect to different dosage of CPAM. Increasing CPAM dosage increases retention of NPs within the cellulose matrix with stronger interparticle interactions and produces composites with smaller pores. The correlation length of NPs, indicative of the size of the NP clusters increased from 30 to 70 nm as the CPAM dosage increased from 16.5 to 330 mg/g NPs. Retention and assembly of SiO2 NPs by varying CPAM dosage results from the balance of different interaction forces between NPs, CPAM and nanocellulose fibres. Understanding the effect of CPAM dosage on the various NP and composite structural conformations enables us to engineer novel hierarchically and functional cellulose based structured materials.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 373-379 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects |
Volume | 513 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 5 Jan 2017 |
Keywords
- Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)
- TEM
- Silica nanoparticles (NPs)
- Cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM)
Projects
- 1 Finished
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An X-ray scattering facility for advanced characterisation of natural and novel materials
Wilson, S., Cheng, Y., Davies, C., Guo, Q., Hodgson, P., Hutchinson, C., Kamenetsky, V., Stanford, N. E., Wallace, M., Webb, J., Yang, W. & Zhang, L.
Australian Research Council (ARC), Monash University, Deakin University, La Trobe University, University of Tasmania, University of Melbourne
20/05/13 → 30/04/14
Project: Research
Equipment
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Centre for Electron Microscopy (MCEM)
Peter Miller (Manager)
Office of the Vice-Provost (Research and Research Infrastructure)Facility/equipment: Facility