Surface modification of nanocellulose films

The unique properties of nanofibrillated cellulose make it a strong candidate for many applications such as composites, construction, porous and functional materials, among others. Most of these applications require chemical modification, either to achieve better compatibility with the matrix or to provide resistance to ambient conditions; case in which might be preferable to directly modify the surface of nanocellulose films. During film formation, accumulations of airborne contamination on the film surface are likely to hamper potential sites for chemical reaction. Thus, an effective activation of the surface is essential in order to achieve desired levels of modification. In this paper, a strategy to control and enhance the reactivity of nanocellulose film surfaces is discussed. The success of such surface activation is demonstrated by surface modification and analyzed using a set of surface sensitive methods such as atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.