Optically Transparent Nanocomposite Based on Cellulose Nanofibers from Newspapers and Polyurethane

The goal of this paper was to develop an optically transparent nanocomposite with high strength by reinforcing polyurethane (PU) with cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) extracted from newspapers. The FE-SEM images show that through chemical and mechanical treatments, newspaper CNFs with diameters ranged from 20 to 100 nm and an aspect ratio of over 1000 were successfully obtained as well as wood powder. They were cross-linked together and formed a special three-dimensional network structure. The nanocomposite was fabricated by impregnating the CNF sheet into transparent PU resin and cured under ultraviolet. Results demonstrate that the transparency of newspaper CNF/PU nanocomposite was as high as wood CNF/PU nanocomposite. The elastic modulus and tensile strength of newspaper CNF/PU composite were increased roughly eighteen times and two times respectively while retaining the high transparency of PU, which was nearly the same with wood CNF/PU composite.