Raman spectroscopy of CNC- and CNF-based nanocomposites

Abstract

In this chapter, applications of Raman spectroscopy to nanocelluloses and nanocellulose composites are reviewed, and it is shown how use of various techniques in Raman can provide unique information. Some of the most important uses consisted of identification of cellulose nanomaterials, estimation of cellulose crystallinity, study of dispersion of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in polymers, and assessment of CNC/matrix interactions. Further, using a bleached fiber, it was demonstrated that information on the orientation of cellulose at themolecular level can be obtained with the help of polarized Raman spectroscopy.This capability can therefore be used to study the organization of nanocelluloses in composites. Lastly, in nanocellulose composites, an example was given of how Raman spectroscopy can be used to quantify the strain or stress transferred to nanocelluloses from the surrounding polymer matrix.

Citation

Agarwal, Umesh P. 2017. Raman spectroscopy of CNC- and CNF-based nanocomposites. Kargarzadeh, Haneih; Ahmad, Ishak; Thomas, Sabu; Dufresne, Alain, eds. In: Handbook of Nanocellulose and Cellulose Nanocomposites. John Wiley & Sons. Chapter 18. p. 609-625.