UV-Absorbing Cellulose Nanocrystals as Functional Reinforcing Fillers in Poly(vinyl chloride) Films

Ultraviolet (UV)-responsive poly(cinnamoyloxy ethyl methacrylate) (PCEM) was grafted on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) via the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization technique. The resultant PCEM-grafted CNCs (PCEM-g-CNCs) exhibit high UV absorption properties and undergo cross-linking when subjected to UV radiation. When the PCEM-g-CNC nanohybrids were incorporated into poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix, transparent nanocomposite films with UV-blocking characteristics were obtained. Comparison of the optical and mechanical properties of the films before and after UV irradiation confirmed that the PCEM-g-CNCs are excellent thermal and UV stabilizers for PVC. In addition, the tensile properties of the PVC film were increased significantly and further enhanced after UV irradiation.