• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.79-85
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• 2024

We investigated the crystal structural property and chemical bonding nature of cellulose nanocrystal extracted directly from cotton cellulose using high-pressure homogenizer. The nanowire-like cellulose nanocrystals were randomly distributed in the form of a dense mesh. Based on calculating the interplanar distance of the Bragg-diffracted crystal plane observed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, it was found that the cellulose nanocrystals formed by high-pressure homogenizer had a monoclinc crystal structure, corresponding to the cellulose Iβ sub-polymorph. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis for the quantitatively evaluation of the amorphous region in cellulose nanocrystals revealed that the crystallinity index of cellulose nanocrystals was calculated to be 53.06 %. The O/C ratio of the surface of cellulose nanocrystal was estimated to be 0.82. Further analysis showed that chemical bonds of C-C bond or C-H bond, C-O bond, O-C-O bond or C=O bond, and O-C=O bond were the main chemical bonding states of the cellulose nanocrystal surface.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

In this study, the water resistance and mechanical properties of heat-treated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films were investigated. PVA is the most commonly used synthetic biodegradable polymers owing to its excellent properties. However, the water/moisture sensitivity and relatively poor mechanical properties of PVA limits its applications. Although heat treatment is a conventionally used method to improve the mechanical strength and water resistance of PVA, the effectiveness of this method is insufficient. Therefore, CNC was used to further improve the mechanical properties and water resistance of the heat-treated PVA film. PVA/CNC nanocomposites containing CNC contents of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt% were fabricated using solvent casting and subsequent heat treatment. The mechanical properties and water resistance of PVA/CNC films were significantly improved. The tensile strength and wet strength of the PVA/CNC film with a CNC content of 5 wt% (PVA/CNC 5%) were 184.5% and 136.0% higher than those of the untreated PVA, respectively. In addition, the water absorption and solubility of PVA/CNC 5% were 56.6% and 68.2% lower than those of the untreated PVA.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2023.11a
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• pp.189-190
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• 2023

In this study, the compressive strength and hydration heat of cement paste mixed with cellulose nanocrystal(CNC) and graphene oxide (GO) were evaluated. The difference was compared by mixing 0.1 vol.% ~0.4 vol.% of CNC and 0.05 wt.% ~ 0.1 wt.% of GO in a cement paste with a water cement ratio of 0.3. As a result, it was confirmed that the compressive strength increased as CNC and GO were mixed respectively, and then the compressive strength decreased when the appropriate mixing rate was exceeded. In the hydration heat measurement, there was no significant difference when only CNC was mixed, but it was confirmed that the hydration heat decreased as the amount of CNC mixing increased when used in combination with GO.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.250-255
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• 2013

As a renewable nanomaterial, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) isolated from wood grants excellent mechanical properties in developing high performance nanocomposites. This study was undertaken to compare the reinforcing efficiency of two different CNCs, i.e., cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from hardwood bleached kraft pulp (HW-BKP) as reinforcing agent in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based nanocomposite. The CNWs were isolated by sulfuric acid hydrolysis while the CNFs were isolated by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation. Based on measurements using transmission electron microscopy, the individual CNWs were about $6.96{\pm}0.87nm$ wide and $178{\pm}55nm$ long, while CNFs were $7.07{\pm}0.99nm$ wide. The incorporation of CNWs and CNFs into the PVA matrix at 5% and 1% levels, respectively, resulted in the maximum tensile strength, indicating different efficiencies of these CNCs in the nanocomposites. Therefore, these results suggest a relationship between the reinforcing potential of CNCs and their physical characteristics, such as their morphology, dimensions, and aspect ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.730-739
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• 2015

Various cellulose nanofibers (CNF) with different morphology and chemical properties were prepared for the reinforcement of sheet of paper mulberry bast fiber. Lignocellulose nanofiber (LCNF), Holocellulose nanofiber (HCNF), alkali-treated HCNF (AT-HCNF), TEMPO-oxidated nanofiber (TEMPO-NF) and cellulose nanocrystal (CNF) were prepared and their addition effect on the properties of sheet of paper mulberry bast fiber were investigated. Air permeability, surface smoothness, and tensile properties were improved by increasing CNF addition. Its improvement may be due to the CNF deposited between and on paper mulberry bast fibers, which was confirmed by SEM observation.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.518-527
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• 2015

In this study, nanocomposite mats consisting of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and poly(lactic acide) (PLA) were electrospun from a suspension mixture consisting of tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. Morphology study showed that fibers of electrospun composite mats were aligned in three dimensional surface along the fiber long-axis. Average diameter of the electrospun fibers decreased with an increase in the CNC loading level. Tensile strength of the electrospun fibers mat decreased with an increase in the CNC loading level because of bead formation in the formed fibers and low interfacial bond strength between PLA and CNC. Meanwhile, thermal stability of the electrospun nanocomposite mats was effectively improved as the amount of CNC increased.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.373-393
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• 2015

Background: Cellulose is a ubiquitous, renewable and environmentally friendly biopolymer, which has high promise to fulfil the rising demand for sustainable and biocompatible materials. Particularly, the recent progress in the synthesis of highly crystalline cellulose-based nanoscale biomaterials, namely cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), draws significant attention from many research communities, ranging from bioresource engineering, to materials science and engineering, to biological and biomedical engineering to bionanotechnology. The feasibility of harnessing CNCs' unique biophysicochemical properties has inspired their basic and applied research, offering much promise for new biomaterials with diverse advanced functionalities. Purpose: This review focuses on vital issues and topics on the recent advances in CNC-based biomaterials with potential, in particular, for bionanotechnology and biological and biomedical engineering. The challenges and limitations of CNC technology are discussed as well as potential strategies to overcome them, providing an essential source of information in the exploration of possible and futuristic applications of the CNC-based functional "green" nanomaterials. Conclusion: CNCs offer exciting possibilities for advanced "green" nanomaterials, driving innovative research and development in a wide range of fields, including biological and biomedical engineering.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.376-384
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• 2014

This study investigated the effect of nanocellulose, such as microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), and aminated starch on tensile property and thermal stability of plasticized starch film. Glycerol (23 wt%) was used as a plasticizer and nanocelluloses of 1-30 parts per hundred parts of resin (phr) in the basis of plasticized starch were added. Tensile strength and elastic modulus increased with increasing nanocellulose addition amount, whereas elongation at break decreased. Tensile properties of MFC-reinforced starch film were higher than those of CNC-reinforced film. Optimum addition amount of aminated starch, which is commonly used for paper sizing, to improve tensile property of film, was found to be 5%. And 1% addition of aminated starch showed the best effect in the improvement of tensile property of the film. Thermal stability was improved with the addition of MFC to plasticized starch film with and without aminated starch.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2024

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are essential components in water electrolysis systems, serving to physically separate the generated hydrogen and oxygen gases while enabling the selective transport of hydroxide ions between electrodes. Key characteristics sought in AEMs include high ion conductivity and robust chemical and mechanical stability in alkaline. In this study, quaternized Poly(terphenyl piperidinium)/cellulose nanocrystals (qPTP/CNC) mixed matrix membrane was fabricated. The polymer matrix, PTP, was synthesized via super-acid polymerization, known for its excellent ion conductivity and alkaline durability. The qPTP/CNC membrane showed a dense and uniform morphology without significant voids or large aggregates at the polymer-nanoparticle interface. The qPTP/CNC membrane containing 2 wt% CNC demonstrated a high ion exchange capacity of 1.90 mmol/g, coupled with low water uptake (9.09%) and swelling ratio (5.56%). Additionally, the qPTP/CNC membrane showed significantly lower resistance and superior alkaline stability (384 hours at 50℃ in 1 M KOH) compared to the commercial FAA-3-50 membrane. These results highlight the potential of hydrophilic additive CNC in enhancing ion conductivity and alkaline durability of ion exchange membranes.