Regenerated cellulose-dispersed polystyrene composites enabled via Pickering emulsion polymerization

Cellulose composites are an important class of polymeric composites due to their renewable, biodegradable feedstock, and tend to have exceptional properties due to peculiar increase of the matrix-filler interface. In this work, a new breed of colloids enabled by regenerated cellulose (RC) was used to prepare polystyrene/cellulose composites. Specifically, an oil-in-water Pickering emulsion of styrene stabilized by RC was prepared, followed by polymerization of styrene, allowing us to obtain a uniformly dispersed PS/RC composite. When the RC concentration was above 0.8 wt%, a network of RC spontaneously formed in the composite, as evidenced by rheological testing. Furthermore, the addition of RC to polystyrene improved the composite's thermal stability and tensile mechanical properties while minimally impacting average visible light transmission (with a decrease in average transmission by about 1-5%). Regenerated cellulose is a promising nanofiller for polymeric composites due to its environment friendly and cost effective nature, and could be used for preparation of other novel RC-reinforced composites.