2021/01/08 by Cassia Lux, Lux, Cassia, Thomas Tilger +7
Materials Science · #Advanced Cellulose Research Studies #FOS: Physical sciences #Polymer Surface Interaction Studies #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft) #Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2101.03112
openalex publication_date 2021/01/08 · openalex created_date 2022/07/25 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
For a tailored functionalization of cellulose based papers, the interaction\nbetween paper fibers and functional additives have to be understood. Planar\ncellulose surfaces present a suitable model system for studying the binding of\nadditives. In this work, polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) as model surfaces\nare prepared by alternating dip coating of the negatively charged cellulose\nderivate carboxymethyl cellulose and a polycation, either PDADMAC or chitosan.\nThe varied parameters of the PEM formation are the polyelectrolyte\nconcentrations and pH (pH=2-6). Both PEM systems exhibit an exponential growth,\nwhich reveals a high mobility of the polyelectrolytes (PEs). The pH-tunable\ncharge density leads to PEMs with different surface topographies. QCM-D\nexperiments reveal pronounced viscoelastic properties of the PEMs. Ellipsometry\nand atomic force microscopy measurements show that the strong and highly\ncharged polycation PDADMAC leads to the formation of smooth PEMs. The weak\npolycation chitosan results in cellulose model surfaces with higher film\nthicknesses and a tunable roughness. The PEMs prepared from both polycations\nexhibit a high water uptake when exposed to a humid environment. The resulting\nPEMs are suitable water-stable but water swellable model surfaces with a\ncontrollable roughness and topography.\n