reviewBiomacromoleculesJan 21, 2005Closed access

Review of Recent Research into Cellulosic Whiskers, Their Properties and Their Application in Nanocomposite Field

Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales · Université Joseph Fourier · +3 more institutions

PubMed
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Abstract

There are numerous examples where animals or plants synthesize extracellular high-performance skeletal biocomposites consisting of a matrix reinforced by fibrous biopolymers. Cellulose, the world's most abundant natural, renewable, biodegradable polymer, is a classical example of these reinforcing elements, which occur as whisker-like microfibrils that are biosynthesized and deposited in a continuous fashion. In many cases, this mode of biogenesis leads to crystalline microfibrils that are almost defect-free, with the consequence of axial physical properties approaching those of perfect crystals. This quite "primitive" polymer can be used to create high performance nanocomposites presenting outstanding…

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