Some Properties of Polycaprolactone Composites with Cellulose Nanocrystals

Composites of polycaprolactone with cellulose nanocrystals were produced, and their morphological, thermal, and strength characteristics were examined. It was found that nanocrystalline cellulose as a filler increased the porosity of the resultant composite materials. A conclusion was made that nanocrystalline cellulose can act as an initiator of polycaprolactone crystallization and affect the growth of the polymer crystallites. Incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals into the polycaprolactone matrix increased the hydrophilicity of the material and promoted an increase in water sorption while making the composite more brittle as indicated by decrease in the elongation at break and icreases in the tensile strength and Young’s modulus.