Utilization of cellulose nanocrystals as an additive in the formulation of biocomposites made with Acrodur® resin is presented. Natural fibers/polyethylene terephthalate mats were impregnated with Acrodur® and hot-pressed into the final thickness of 3 mm after drying. Biocomposites with 2 wt.% and 5 wt.% cellulose nanocrystal (dry-basis) were also produced. The produced biocomposite panels were then tested to determine the flexural strength, flexural modulus and Izod impact strength. The results revealed that adding cellulose nanocrystal to the composite formulation increased flexural modulus significantly up to 970 MPa (17.5% increase) at a panel density of 0.5 g/cm3, while it did not significantly affect flexural strength values. A slight reduction was observed in the impact strength of the samples by adding cellulose nanocrystal. The fractured samples of impact test were observed under a scanning electron microscope. It was shown that in all cases, the fracture happened due to the failure of the fibrous system and in particular natural fibers. Thermal stability of the composites was also investigated using thermo-gravimetric analysis. It was found that adding cellulose nanocrystal slightly reduced the thermal stability of the biocomposites. Potential compatibility of cellulose nanocrystal particles with Acrodur® resin is promising and the improvement in flexural modulus can lead to the design of lighter parts for automotive applications such as door panels, headliners, and underbody shields.
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