ABSTRACT
The isolation of vegetables fiber in cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) comprises a promising alternative for application as reinforcement in polymer matrices. The characterization of the CNCs is essential to evaluate the reliability of this technique and to determine the possible applications from each vegetable fiber type. Therefore it is proposed here a study with atomic force microscopy technique to analyze the morphology and distribution of CNCs from mango seed, mesquite pods, banana pseudostem and fiber palm mesocarp. CNCs were obtained by acid hydrolysis with sulfuric acid in concentrations that varied according to the fiber sources. The results showed dimensions ranging from 300 to 500 nm in length and 4 to 16 nm in diameter. The morphology obtained needle-like show that the isolation of cellulose fibers to CNCs was. The aspect ratio related to the cylindrical needle organization of the isolated CNCs indicate the high potential of the palm mesocarp and mesquite pods as reinforcement on bionanocomposites.
Keywords:
AFM; bionanocomposites; CNCs
