Novel all-cellulose ecocomposites prepared in ionic liquids

In this study, a kind of novel all-cellulose ecocomposites based on cellulose and rice husk (RH) has been prepared by using green solvent, ionic liquid (IL), as processing medium. Due to the presence of the RH, these ecocomposites also contain an inorganic component, silica. The content and distribution of the silica in the ecocomposite have been investigated by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The mechanical properties of these ecocomposites, including both static and dynamic, have been determined by using tensile test and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), respectively. The effect of processing conditions on the interfacial bonding and therefore the mechanical performance of the final ecocomposites has been investigated further. Results show that the incorporation of the RH can provide stiffening effect for cellulose matrix, and the pretreatment of RH fillers by IL can enhance the filler/ matrix interfacial bonding, thus further improving the mechanical performance of the ecocomposite. By selecting suitable composition ratios and processing conditions optimal mechanical performance with the balance among stiffness, strength and elongation at break can be obtained. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008.