ABSTRACT
This chapter covers the mechanical properties, thermal properties, viscoelastic properties, and other miscellaneous properties of non-derivatized all-cellulose composites (ACCs). The mechanical properties of ACCs depend on inherent properties of reinforcing cellulose materials, dissolution time, and regeneration conditions. A higher tensile strength and modulus were achieved for the ACC laminates produced with application of a higher and uniform pressure. Peel strength is the measure of interlaminar adhesion strength of a laminate. In case of ACC laminates, due to chemical similarity of matrix and reinforcing phase, a high interlaminar strength is expected. The tensile properties of isotropic ACCs are uniform in all directions, and properties are not much affected by the orientation of reinforcements. Dynamic mechanical analysis has been reported in many works to investigate the viscoelastic properties as well as thermal properties of ACCs. One big advantage of an ACC is its very low thermal expansion coefficient. Thermal stability of composites can be checked by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).
