US 12,448,512 B2
Surface-modified and dried microfibrillated cellulose reinforced thermoplastic biocomposites
Soydan Ozcan, Oak Ridge, TN (US); Kai Li, Knoxville, TN (US); Halil Tekinalp, Knoxville, TN (US); Xianhui Zhao, Oak Ridge, TN (US); Jon Phipps, Gorran Haven (GB); and Sean Ireland, Hampden, ME (US)
Assigned to UT-BATTELLE, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US); and FIBERLEAN TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED, Par (GB)
Filed by UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US); and FiberLean Technologies Limited, Par (GB)
Filed on Jul. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/371,581.
Application 17/371,581 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2021/041039, filed on Jul. 9, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/051,614, filed on Jul. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0064437 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. C08L 67/04 (2006.01); C08B 3/08 (2006.01); C08L 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC C08L 67/04 (2013.01) [C08B 3/08 (2013.01); C08L 1/10 (2013.01); C08L 2205/16 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for producing a vinyl-carboxylate, surface-modified microfibrillated cellulose-thermoplastic polyester or thermoplastic polyolefin biocomposite material having improved mechanical strength properties, the method comprising the following steps:
(a) preparing a dried, vinyl-carboxylate, surface-modified microfibrillated cellulose directly from pulp that is a water suspension of cellulose fibers by water-based surface modification of the suspended microfibrillated cellulose fibers including transesterification in the aqueous phase with water as the only solvent, and subsequent drying of the surface-modified microfibrillated cellulose;
(b) heating and mixing a thermoplastic polyester or thermoplastic polyolefin;
(c) combining the dried vinyl-carboxylate, surface-modified microfibrillated cellulose with the heated thermoplastic polyester or thermoplastic polyolefin in a mixing apparatus; and
(d) recovering the vinyl-carboxylate, surface-modified microfibrillated cellulose-thermoplastic polyester or thermoplastic polyolefin biocomposite; wherein the vinyl-carboxylate, surface-modified microfibrillated cellulose thermoplastic polyester or thermoplastic polyolefin biocomposite demonstrates improved tensile strength and Young's modulus compared to neat thermoplastic polyester or thermoplastic polyolefin.