Preparation of Epoxy-Nanocellulose Composite Material from Iraqi Sugarcane BagasseResidue

Abstract

In this study, composite of epoxy-nanocellulose resin from the agriculture waste (Sugarcane Bagasse residues) available locally in Iraq synthesized. The nano scale polymer characterized using the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technique and the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). The scanning electronic microscopy images showed nano-fibers with diameters at 43.3 nm while the AFM images show that the particle size distribution between 60 to 110 nm. The resultant polymeric composite materials were studied in different acidic and basic mediums. It was concluded that in the normal conditions, the hardness value was less than pure epoxy template and the hardness was increased with the increase of the epoxy-nanocellulose reinforcement ratio and the highest hardness of the template supported by 4 g of nanocellulose. The value of hardness is less for the polymeric compound (epoxy-nanocellulose resin ) with increased immersion time in the acid and base solution. The values of hardness in the dry state before immersion in solutions, is greater that in the case of immersion in the acid and base solution where the values of hardness when immersion in the base solution are greater than their values when immersion in the acid solution.. The hardness values of the resultant polymeric composite were found to be lower in the acid and basic mediums. In addition