Elastic, crosslinked poly(acrylic acid) filaments: nanocellulose reinforcement and graphene lubrication

Hybrid monofilaments of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and 1,6-hexanediol diglycidyl ether (16DGE), compounded with nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and graphene, were thermally crosslinked and subsequently spun from aqueous solution. Crosslinking, in the form of ester linkage formation, between PAA and 16DGE was successfully achieved via thermal induction. The monofilaments were elastic and flexible in nature, displaying remarkable elongation and work-to-break values (up to nine times higher than pure PAA-16DGE filaments). This unique behaviour derives from a synergy between the fillers; namely the reinforcing ability of cellulose nanofibrils and the lubricating effect of graphene.