Novel carboxymethyl cellulose-grafted polyacrylic acid/cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposite materials as bio-based adhesive

Renewable feedstock-based biopolymer cellulose-derived CNC and CMC are used to prepare CNC-containing waterborne carboxymethyl cellulose-grafted polyacrylic acid (grafted CMC), a prominent approach for developing bio-based adhesives to reduce the synthetic carbon footprint. Herein, a novel grafted CMC/CNC nanocomposite is prepared by incorporating CNC into the grafted CMC, while the grafted CMC is synthesized by grafting polymerization of CMC and polyacrylic acid. The in situ-dispersed CMC/CNC nanocomposites have excellent thermal stability and viscosity and record adhesion strength compared to the grafted CMC. This work represents a simple route for preparing waterborne bio-based nanocomposite and opens up a novel value-added application of bio-based materials in adhesive applications.