Plasma deposition of polymer composite films incorporating nanocellulose whiskers

¹ Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institute for Forest Utilization and Works Science, Werthmannstrasse 6, 79085 Freiburg, Germany
² Université de Haute-Alsace, Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse 15, Rue Jean Starcky, BP 2488, 68057 Mulhouse Cedex, France
³ Lulea University of Technology, Department of Applied Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Division of Manufacturing and Design of Wood and Bionanocomposites, SE-97187 Lulea, Sweden

^a e-mail: Vincent.Roucoules@uha.fr

Received: 15 April 2011
Revised: 11 July 2011
Accepted: 13 July 2011
Published online: 28 October 2011

Abstract

In a trend for sustainable engineering and functionalization of surfaces, we explore the possibilities of gas phase processes to deposit nanocomposite films. From an analysis of pulsed plasma polymerization of maleic anhydride in the presence of nanocellulose whiskers, it seems that thin nanocomposite films can be deposited with various patterns. By specifically modifying plasma parameters such as total power, duty cycle, and monomer gas pressure, the nanocellulose whiskers are either incorporated into a buckled polymer film or single nanocellulose whiskers are deposited on top of a polymeric film. The density of the latter can be controlled by modifying the exact positioning of the substrate in the reactor. The resulting morphologies are evaluated by optical microscopy, AFM, contact angle measurements and ellipsometry.