**Epoxy Composites Using Wood Pulp Components as Fillers Epoxy Composites Using Wood Pulp Components as Fillers**

Douglas M. Fox, Noy Kaufman, Jeremiah Woodcock, Chelsea S. Davis, Jeffrey W. Gilman, John R. Shields, Rick D. Davis, Szabolcs Matko and Mauro Zammarano Douglas M. Fox, Noy Kaufman, Jeremiah Woodcock, Chelsea S. Davis, Jeffrey W. Gilman, John R. Shields, Rick D. Davis, Szabolcs Matko and Mauro Zammarano

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/65261

#### **Abstract**

The components of wood, especially lignin and cellulose, have great potential for improving the properties of polymer composites. In this chapter, we discuss some of the latest developments from our lab on incorporating wood-based materials into epoxy composites. Lignosulfonate was used as a flame retardant and cellulose nanocrystals were used as reinforcing materials. Lignosulfonate will disperse well in epoxy, but phase separates during curing. An epoxidation reaction was developed to immobilize the lignosulfonate during curing. The lignosulfonate–epoxy composites were characterized using microcombustion and cone calorimetry tests. Cellulose also has poor interfacial adhesion to hydrophobic polymer matrices. Cellulose fibers and nanocrystals aggregate when placed in epoxy resin, resulting in very poor dispersion. The cellulose nanocrystal surface was modified with phenyl containing materials to disrupt cellulose interchain hydrogen bonding and improve dispersion in the epoxy resin. The cellulose nanocrystal – epoxy composites were characterized for mechanical strength using tensile tests, water barrier properties using standardized water absorption, glass transition temperatures using differential calorimetry, and aggregation and dispersion using microscopic techniques.

**Keywords:** cellulose, lignosulfonate, flammability, reinforcement, epoxy

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
