XRD analysis
All measurement results of XRD were fitted by peak separation method [12]. The XRD diffraction patterns of ANFs and RCFs, which original materials came from corn straw and was fabricated by dissolving cellulose prepared by extraction method and acid-alkali method, respectively, and adding different concentration of nanocellulose, were shown in Fig. 1. The diffraction pattern range of ANFs and RCFs is mainly from 10° to 30°. In Fig. 1a, the crystal peaks appear at 2θ = 16.1°-17.5° (1 0–1), 2θ = 20.8°-21.9° (0 0 2), and indicates that the crystal coexistence state of cellulose-I and cellulose-II in ANFs and RCFs [13, 14]. Compared with the primary and secondary diffraction peaks at 2θ = 21.0° and 16.5° of RCF, the primary and secondary diffraction peaks of 2θ = 21.9° and 17.5° shift toward right when the concentration of nanocellulose is 0.1% in the ANF. The phenomenon indicates that the content of cellulose-I was significantly reduced and cellulose-II was increased gradually when the concentration of added nanocellulose is 0.1% and further indicates the transformation of cellulose-I to cellulose-II in the ANF [15]. This may be caused by the formation of holes in the sample after ultrasonic treatment during the preparation of cellulose, and the formation of a certain molecular orientation due to a small amount of nanocellulose, which further deepened the trend of conversion to cellulose-II [11]. However, the secondary diffraction peak of 2θ = 17.5° shift toward the 2θ = 16.2° when the concentration of nanocellulose reached 1.5%. It means that the crystal type of ANF transformed from cellulose-II to cellulose-I again. When the concentration of nanocellulose reached 3%, there was no change in the crystal type of ANF, which remained cellulose-I and indicates that the crystalline type of nanocellulose is cellulose-I. The overall CS of ANF changes from cellulose-II to cellulose-I when the concentration of nanocellulose reached 1.5%. Therefore, the crystal type of ANF does not change when the concentration of nanocellulose continued to increase.
When the cellulose was prepared by acid-alkali method, the diffraction pattern of ACFs and RCF was shown in Fig. 1b. Compared with the diffraction patterns of the ANFs and RCF which cellulose was prepared by extracting method, the primary and secondary peaks at 2θ = 16.8°, 21.8° appeared in RCF, and this indicated the coexistence of cellulose-I and cellulose-II. This is consistent with the crystal type of ANF prepared by extracting method. Similarly, the positions of the primary and secondary peaks at 2θ = 17.3°, 21.9° shift to the right when the concentration of nanocellulose is 0.1% and it suggests that the CS changes from cellulose-I to cellulose-II. Similar to the ANF which cellulose was prepared by extracting method, the 2θ = 16.0° indicated that crystal type transformed from cellulose-II to cellulose-I when the nanocellulose concentration is 1.5%. The crystal type of ANF did not change when the concentration of nanocellulose was doubled. Differently, when the concentration of nanocellulose is 3.0%, the intensity of the peak at 2θ = 21.7° is significantly increase and indicates that the content of cellulose-II is increased. This shift could be because that cellulose was soaked by sodium hydroxide (8%) during preparation process, and alkali treatment could convert cellulose-I to cellulose-II. In the process of mercerization, the whole fiber is transformed into the swollen state, the assembly and direction of microfibers are completely broken, and the parallel chain structure of cellulose-I is transformed into the anti-parallel chain structure of cellulose-II [16].
The XRD diffraction patterns of ANFs and RCFs, which original materials came from wheat straw and was fabricated by dissolving cellulose prepared by extraction method and acid-alkali method, respectively, and adding different concentration of nanocellulose, were shown in Fig. 2. The range of the diffraction pattern of ANFs is mainly from 10° to 30°. As shown in Fig. 2a, the appearance of the primary peak and the secondary at 2θ = 17.2°、2θ = 20.6° respectively, indicates the existence of cellulose-I. When the concentration of nanocellulose is 0.1%, the crystalline type transforms from cellulose-I to cellulose-II gradually, and the appearance of the primary and secondary peaks at 2θ = 16.4°、2θ = 21.6° confirmed this transformation. When the concentration of nanocellulose continues to increase, the crystal type of ANFs does not change. The intensity of primary peaks at 2θ = 21.2°-21.3° is slightly higher than the secondary peaks at 2θ = 16.6°-16.8°. It may be caused that the structure of cellulose-I of ANFs was destroyed through the action of alkalization and ultrasound, and part of the crystalline region was rearranged into cellulose-II.
As shown in Fig. 2b, compared with the diffraction patterns of ANFs and RCFs from corn straw, the changing of this diffraction pattern in ANFs of wheat straw is different. The primary and secondary peaks at 2θ = 16.2°, 21.4° confirmed that cellulose-I and cellulose-II both present in RCF. When the concentration of nanocellulose is 0.1%, the crystal type of ANF is consistent with RCF. When the concentration of nanocellulose reached 1.5%, the primary peak at 2θ = 22.1° (002) appears. It proves that the crystalline type of cellulose is transformed from cellulose-II to cellulose-I. When the concentration of nanocellulose reached 3.0%, the primary and secondary peaks at 2θ = 20.9°, 16.3° appear. It again proves that the crystal type of ANFs changes from cellulose-I to cellulose-II.
FTIR analysis
The FTIR spectrum of RCFs and ANFs with different concentration nanocellulose and cellulose extracted by extracting method from corn straw are shown Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3a, the bands at 3347 cm− 1 assigned as -OH stretching vibration is shifted to lower wavenumbers 3338 cm− 1. The XRD patterns of the RCF of corn straw prepared by the extracting method is cellulose-I and cellulose-II are coexisting. There is a wide absorptive peak at 3338 cm− 1, also proves that cellulose-I and cellulose-II are coexisting in the RCF. The band at 2891 cm− 1 is assigned as -CH stretching in cellulose-II [17]. From the infrared spectrum, the absorption peak at 2891 cm− 1 gradually changes from a flat peak to a sharp peak with the increasing of nanocellulose concentration. This phenomenon indicates a gradual transition from cellulose-I to cellulose-II.
As shown in Fig. 3b, the absorbance intensity at 1419 cm− 1 assigned as symmetric -CH2 bending is shifted to higher wavenumbers 1421 cm− 1, when the concentration of nanocellulose is 1.5%. It indicates that the cellulose-II transforms to cellulose-I [18]. With the increasing of the nanocellulose concentration, the intensity of the absorption peak at 1367 cm− 1 increases, and the width of the absorption peak gradually narrows. It may be caused by the content of cellulose-I in the CS of ANFs increase due to the addition of nanocellulose. The band at 1262 cm− 1 assigned as -COH in the plane at C-2 and C-3 in cellulose-I and cellulose-II, and indicates the coexistence of cellulose-I and cellulose-II in ANFs and RCFs. The bands at 1157 cm− 1, 1015 cm− 1 are assigned as C-O-C stretching in cellulose-II and C-O stretching, respectively. Similarly, with the increase of nanocellulose content, these peaks’ pattern changes from flat peak to sharp peak. It indicates that the region of cellulose-II in the CS of ANFs gradually concentrates in a certain part. The band at 992 cm− 1 assigned C-O stretching at C-6, is shifted to the lower wavenumber at 990 cm− 1. It suggests that the transformation from cellulose-II to cellulose-I of CS in ANFs. The band at 896 cm− 1 is assigned as β-glycosidic linage for cellulose-I, and shifts to 894 cm− 1 when the concentration of nanocellulose is 0.1%. It indicates that the crystalline type of ANFs changes from cellulose-II to cellulose-I. The absorption band moves from 894 cm− 1 to 895 cm− 1 when the concentration of nanocellulose is 3.0%. It indicates there is a transition from cellulose-I to cellulose-II in ANFs. This phenomenon is consistent with the results obtained by XRD.
The FTIR spectrum of RCFs and ANFs with different nanocellulose concentration and the cellulose was prepared by acid-alkali method from corn straw are shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4a, there is a large absorption peak between 3643 cm− 1 and 3013 cm− 1. The absorption intensity of peak reaches the maximum when the position is 3322 cm− 1. There is also a broadening absorption peak between 2977cm− 1 and 2784 cm− 1. The absorption intensity of peak reaches the maximum when the position is 2894 cm− 1. The bands at 3322 cm− 1, 2894 cm− 1 are assigned as -OH stretching vibration and -CH stretching in cellulose-II, respectively [19].
As shown in Fig. 4b, the absorbance intensity at 1419 cm− 1 is assigned as symmetric -CH2 bending of cellulose-II. The peak at 1422 cm− 1 is shifted to 1420 cm− 1 when the concentration of nanocellulose is 0.1%, and it indicated that the crystalline type of RCF gradually transfers to cellulose-II. The band at 1317 cm− 1 is assigned as -CH2 wagging at C-6. The position of the peaks at 1315 cm− 1 appears a weak absorption peak in RCF, and it suggests that cellulose-I and cellulose-II all exist in RCF. When the concentration of nanocellulose was 0.1% and 1.5%, the peak at 1315 cm− 1 was shifted to 1312 cm− 1, which might be due to the use of ultrasonic treatment in the preparing cellulose process, so that the partial of CS was destroyed and reconstituted, and tended to be cellulose-II. The band at 992 cm− 1 also is shifted to 990 cm− 1 when the concentration of nanocellulose is 0.1%. It suggests that cellulose-II transforms to cellulose-I in ANFs. The absorbance intensity at 895 cm− 1 is assigned as antisymmetrical out of phase stretching of cellulose-II, and the peak at 895 cm− 1 shifts to 897 cm− 1 when the concentration of nanocellulose is 1.5%. It indicates that the crystalline type of ANFs gradually transforms to cellulose-I. Similarly, when the concentration of nanocellulose is 3%, the absorptive peaks at 1420 cm− 1, 1312 cm− 1, 990 cm− 1, 897 cm− 1 are shifted to higher wavenumbers at 1422 cm− 1, 1315 cm− 1, 991 cm− 1, 895 cm− 1, and it proves again that cellulose-I transforms to cellulose-II in ANFs. This phenomenon is corresponding to Fig. 1b.
The FTIR spectrums of RCFs and ANFs with different concentration nanocellulose and cellulose treated by extracting method from wheat straw are shown in Fig. 5. From Fig. 5a, the bands at 3346 cm− 1 shows -OH stretching of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. This indicates that cellulose-I existed in ANFs which obtained from wheat straw. The bands at 2891 cm− 1 manifests -CH stretching of cellulose-II. Meanwhile, the position of peak at 2916 cm− 1 appeared a shoulder peak is assigned as -CH stretching [20].
As shown in Fig. 5b, the band at 1635 cm− 1 is assigned as -OH bending about water. The bands at 1421, 1367, 1316 cm− 1 are assigned as -CH2 bending, -CH bending and -CH2 wagging at C-6, and indicates that cellulose-I and cellulose-II coexist in ANF and RCF [21]. The absorption peaks at 1199 cm− 1 are assigned as -COH bending at C-6 in cellulose-II. The absorbance intensity at 1156 cm− 1 is assigned as C-O-C stretching vibration in cellulose-II. The absorption peaks at 1015 cm− 1 and 990 cm− 1 are assigned as C-O stretching at C-6 in cellulose-II. The bands at 896 cm− 1 are assigned as -COC at β-glycosidic linkage in cellulose-I. When the concentration of nanocellulose was 3.0%, it is worth noting that the intensity of absorption peaks in the figure all increase.
The FTIR spectrums of RCFs and ANFs with different concentration nanocellulose and cellulose treated by acid-alkali method from wheat straw are shown in Fig. 6. From Fig. 6a, the bands at 3338 cm− 1 shows -OH stretching of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. This indicates that cellulose-I existed in ANFs which obtains from wheat straw. The bands at 2891 cm− 1 manifests -CH stretching of cellulose-II. The position of peak at 2916 cm− 1 disappears when the concentration of nanocellulose is 1.5% and 3.0%.
As shown in Fig. 6b, the band at 1633 cm− 1 is assigned as -OH bending about water. The bands at 1423 cm− 1 are assigned as -CH2 bending and indicates that cellulose-I exists in ANFs and CRF. The peak at 1368 cm− 1 in CRF shifts to 1370 cm− 1 when the concentration of nanocellulose is 0.1%. This phenomenon suggests that crystalline type transforms from cellulose-I to cellulose-II. When the concentration of nanocellulose increase from 0.1–1.5% and then to 3.0%, the absorption peak also shifts from 1370 cm− 1 to 1368 cm− 1 and then to 1360 cm− 1. This indicates that crystalline type of ANFs transforms cellulose-II to cellulose-I. The bands at 1314 cm− 1 are assigned as -CH2 wagging at C-6, and indicates that cellulose-II exists in ANF and CRF. The absorption peaks at 1199 cm− 1 are assigned as -COH bending at C-6 in cellulose-II. The absorbance intensity at 1156 cm− 1 is assigned as C-O-C stretching vibration in cellulose-II. The absorption peaks at 1015 cm− 1 and 990 cm− 1 are assigned as C-O stretching at C-6 in cellulose-II. The bands at 896 cm− 1 are assigned as -COC at β-glycosidic linkage in cellulose-I. When the concentration of nanocellulose was 0.1%, it is worth noting that the intensity of absorption peaks in the figure all increase.
Crystallinity index (CI) analysis
In this paper, the calculation equation of CI on X-ray diffraction is as follows:
where A is the area of crystalline peaks; B is the area of all peaks (crystalline and amorphous).
The RCFs’ and ANFs’ CI of corn straw and wheat straw is shown in Table 1, among which the cellulose is prepared by the acid-alkali and extracting method, respectively. CI is one of key factor to determine the films’ mechanical property, therefore, the analysis of CI is very important to understand the mechanical properties of films. The CI of RCF which cellulose was prepared by acid-alkali method from corn straw is 63.6%, and it is higher than the RCF which cellulose was prepared by extracting method from corn straw. The CI of RCF obtained from wheat straw is also the same. In the ANFs which cellulose prepared by acid-alkali method from corn straw, the CI increases with the increase of the nanocellulose concentration. When the nanocellulose concentration is 3.0%, the CI of ANF is 67.9%. In the ANFs which cellulose prepared by extracting method from corn straw, when the ANFs with concentrations of 0.1% and 1.5% nanocellulose, the CI increased to 71.9%. Differently, when the concentration of nanocellulose is 3.0%, the CI of ANF decreased to 58.6%.
Table 1
The CI of all kinds of ANFs
Material
|
Method of preparing cellulose
|
|
Nanocellulose content
|
RCF
|
0.1%
|
1.5%
|
3%
|
Corn straw
|
Acid-alkali method
|
63.6
|
59.6
|
64.7
|
67.9
|
Extracting method
|
58.5
|
68.0
|
71.9
|
58.6
|
Wheat straw
|
Acid-alkali method
|
72.7
|
60.9
|
58.5
|
52.1
|
Extracting method
|
56.9
|
66.9
|
58.1
|
63.9
|
In the ANFs which cellulose prepared by acid-alkali method from wheat straw, the opposite phenomenon appears. The CI decreased to 52.1%, when the nanocellulose content is 3.0%. This may be the ANFs absorbed H2O molecules in the storage process, and H2O molecules gradually entered the crystalline region from the amorphous region, destroying the part of crystalline structure and reducing the CI of ANFs [22]. When the concentration of nanocellulose is 3.0%, the CI of ANFs which cellulose prepared by extracting method from wheat straw increases to 63.9%. On the whole, the addition of nanocellulose can improve the CI of ANFs, and it is expected that the mechanical properties of ANFs will be strengthened.