Abstract: This disclosure provides a polymer composite including a polymer, nanocellulose, and a compatibilizer, wherein the nanocellulose comprises cellulose nanocrystals and/or cellulose nanofibrils, and wherein the compatibilizer comprises a maleated polymer. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose includes lignin-coated nanocellulose. The polymer may be selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactide, or poly(ethylene terephthalate). The maleated polymer may be selected from maleated polyethylene, maleated polypropylene, maleated polystyrene, maleated polylactide, or maleated poly(ethylene terephthalate.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a polymer composite including a polymer, nanocellulose, and a compatibilizer, wherein the nanocellulose comprises cellulose nanocrystals and/or cellulose nanofibrils, and wherein the compatibilizer comprises a maleated polymer. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose includes lignin-coated nanocellulose. The polymer may be selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactide, or poly(ethylene terephthalate). The maleated polymer may be selected from maleated polyethylene, maleated polypropylene, maleated polystyrene, maleated polylactide, or maleated poly(ethylene terephthalate.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a polymer composite including a polymer, nanocellulose, and a compatibilizer, wherein the nanocellulose comprises cellulose nanocrystals and/or cellulose nanofibrils, and wherein the compatibilizer comprises a maleated polymer. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose includes lignin-coated nanocellulose. The polymer may be selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactide, or poly(ethylene terephthalate). The maleated polymer may be selected from maleated polyethylene, maleated polypropylene, maleated polystyrene, maleated polylactide, or maleated poly(ethylene terephthalate.

Abstract: A new polystyrene-nanocellulose composite material is disclosed. The composite may contain about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt %, such as about 0.1 wt % to about 2 wt % of nanocellulose. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose is lignin-coated nanocellulose, such as lignin-coated nanocellulose is obtained from an AVAP® biomass-fractionation process. The nanocellulose may include cellulose nanocrystals and/or cellulose nanofibrils. The polymer composite may be in the form of a polymer melt, or a finished polymer material. The composite is characterized by IZOD impact resistance that is at least 50% (such as 75% or more) higher compared to the polystyrene alone.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a polymer composite including a polymer, nanocellulose, and a compatibilizer, wherein the nanocellulose comprises cellulose nanocrystals and/or cellulose nanofibrils, and wherein the compatibilizer comprises a maleated polymer. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose includes lignin-coated nanocellulose. The polymer may be selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactide, or poly(ethylene terephthalate). The maleated polymer may be selected from maleated polyethylene, maleated polypropylene, maleated polystyrene, maleated polylactide, or maleated poly(ethylene terephthalate.

Abstract: A new polystyrene-nanocellulose composite material is disclosed. The composite may contain about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt %, such as about 0.1 wt % to about 2 wt % of nanocellulose. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose is lignin-coated nanocellulose, such as lignin-coated nanocellulose is obtained from an AVAP® biomass-fractionation process. The nanocellulose may include cellulose nanocrystals and/or cellulose nanofibrils. The polymer composite may be in the form of a polymer melt, or a finished polymer material. The composite is characterized by IZOD impact resistance that is at least 50% (such as 75% or more) higher compared to the polystyrene alone.

Abstract: In some variations, the invention provides a method and additive for improving melt strength and processing stability in polymer blow molding or blown-film extrusion, comprising: providing a polymer or a combination of polymers; forming a melt phase of the polymer(s); and introducing nanocellulose to the melt phase, wherein the introduction of the nanocellulose in step (c) increases the melt strength of the melt phase. The nanocellulose may include hydrophobic or hydrophilic nanocellulose. The nanocellulose may include lignin-coated cellulose nanocrystals and/or lignin-coated cellulose nanofibrils. The nanocellulose may be present in the melt phase at a concentration of about 0.01 wt % to about 10 wt %, for example. The nanocellulose is preferably obtained from an AVAP® lignocellulosic biomass fractionation process.