POS9-0448
Solvent-Minimized Esterification of Cellulose Nanofibrils for Superhydrophobic Biofillers in Biodegradable Polymer Composites
Topic
S9. Polymer Technology for Sustainability
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Pham Thanh Trung Ninh (KAIST)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Developing high-performance cellulose-based biocomposites requires overcoming the poor interfacial compatibility between hydrophilic cellulose and hydrophobic polymer matrices. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are promising renewable reinforcing materials because of their high aspect ratio, large surface area, biodegradability, and excellent mechanical properties. However, their abundant surface hydroxyl groups lead to strong hydrogen bonding, fibril aggregation, limited dispersibility, and weak adhesion with biodegradable hydrophobic polymers such as poly(lactic acid) and polycaprolactone. These limitations reduce the reinforcing efficiency of CNFs and hinder their broader application in sustainable polymer composites. In this study, we present a solvent-minimized mechanochemical route for tailoring the surface polarity of CNFs through esterification with long-chain fatty acyl chlorides. During ball milling, mechanochemical activation promotes ester bond formation directly on the CNF surface while avoiding the use of an organic solvent. By controlling the acyl chloride feed ratio, the surface hydrophobicity of CNFs was systematically tuned, resulting in cellulose-based materials with superhydrophobic characteristics. The grafted alkyl chains reduced the intrinsic hydrophilicity of CNFs and improved their affinity toward hydrophobic biodegradable polymer matrices, indicating enhanced potential for dispersion and interfacial integration. This work provides a greener and scalable strategy to convert CNFs into polymer-compatible bio-based fillers, offering a promising pathway toward sustainable high-performance biocomposites.
