Multifunctional Ternary Polymeric Nanocomposites Based on Cellulosic Nanoreinforcements

Multifunctional nanocomposites based on polymeric matrices and natural fi llers such as nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), microfi brillated cellulose (MFC) and bacterial cellulose (BC), are of scientifi c and industrial interest for their notable performance improvement. Moreover, cellulosic nanoreinforcements have recently attracted much attention due to their renewable nature, availability throughout the world, low cost and density, high surface functionality and reactivity. Th e exceptional mechanical strength, together with high aspect ratio and large surface area, enable these materials to reinforce a wide variety of polymers even at low fi ller loadings. However, a monofunctional fi ller can only improve a single property of host polymers, while the possibility of combining cellulosic nanoreinforcements with additional nanoscaled reinforcement, off ers the possibility of broadening the fi eld of application of nanocomposites. As a result, a new class of functional nanomaterials that can show improved properties, due to the synergistic eff ect resulting from physical or chemical interactions between the cellulose and the second component (biological-, metallic-, ceramic- or carbon-based material), can be achieved. In the present chapter, the modulation of the fi nal properties of a nanocomposite containing cellulosic nanoreinforcement combined with a second fi ller, will be analyzed and reported. In this way, the properties of the fi nal materials can be adjusted as a function of the particle size and distribution, shape, as well as by their interactions with the cellulose surface. Th e eff ect of the second reinforcement will be considered for a wide variety of potential applications, including network structures for tissue engineering, antimicrobial fi lms, electronics, protective coatings, barrier/fi lter membrane systems.