JP2012092203A - Mixture and cellulose fiber dispersion composition and methods for producing them - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide production methods in which compounding of cellulose fibers with a thermoplastic resin is simple and when the obtained mixture (composite material) is melt blended with a thermoplastic resin such as polylactic acid, a composition having high dispersibility of the cellulose fibers in the thermoplastic resin and excellent moldability is obtained.SOLUTION: The mixture (composite material) in which thermoplastic resin fine particles and the cellulose fibers are interlaced with each other; a cellulose fiber dispersion composition including the mixture and a matrix resin capable of melt blending with the mixture; and methods for producing them are provided.

Description

  The present invention relates to a mixture (composite material) in which cellulose fibers and thermoplastic resin fine particles are entangled, a cellulose fiber dispersion composition containing the mixture and a matrix resin, and a method for producing them. The present invention relates to a mixture (composite material), a cellulose fiber dispersion composition, and a method for producing the same, in which the dispersibility of the cellulose fiber is good and molding by a simple method is possible.

From the viewpoint of protecting the natural environment, researches have been actively conducted to effectively use unused resources. Among them, cellulose is abundant in existing quantities, is a resource that is biodegradable and has a low environmental impact, has excellent properties as a material, such as high crystallinity, high tensile strength, and low coefficient of thermal expansion. It is a material expected from the future.
One method for effectively utilizing cellulose is to use it as a reinforcing material. Conventionally, in order to increase the mechanical strength of a resin molding, what mix | blended inorganic fibers, such as glass, is used as a reinforcing material. However, a resin molded body in which inorganic fibers are blended has a problem that a residue derived from the inorganic fibers is generated during incineration, and thus must be disposed of by landfill processing or the like.
For this reason, if relatively high strength plant fibers such as bamboo, hemp, kenaf, etc. can be effectively used as the reinforcing material, these reinforcing materials will eventually be decomposed into water and carbon dioxide. It is attracting attention as it leads to elimination.

  By the way, polylactic acid, which is a plant-derived biodegradable resin, is inferior in heat resistance if it is amorphous, and has the disadvantage that the elastic modulus does not improve even if it is crystallized, so reinforcement to supplement these physical properties The combination of materials is considered effective. Since polylactic acid itself is a plant-derived material, it is preferable to use plant natural fibers in its reinforcing material. From this viewpoint, several patents relating to composite materials of cellulose and polylactic acid have been proposed. .

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a molded product in which a polylactic acid resin and powdered cellulose (average particle size: 1 to 60 μm) are melt-mixed and combined.
Patent Document 2 discloses a material in which microfibrillated cellulose obtained by immersing and dehydrating commercially available microfibrillated cellulose (fiber diameter: 0.01 to 10 μm) in acetone is combined with polylactic acid using a dispersant. Proposed.
Patent Document 3 discloses a resin composition containing a synthetic resin such as a hydrophobized cellulosic fiber and polypropylene, and a resin molded body formed from the composition.

In a proposal regarding a composite material of cellulose and polylactic acid, for example, in a composite material (Patent Document 1) in which powdered cellulose and polylactic acid that have not been refined are simply melted and mixed, the surface of the cellulose is exposed in a granular form after molding. There is often a problem that the appearance of the molded product is impaired.
In this way, in the composite material composed of cellulose and polylactic acid, considering the adhesiveness at the interface between polylactic acid and fiber and the appearance of the molded body, the average particle diameter and average fiber diameter of cellulose are reduced to about 1 μm or less. It can be said that miniaturization is preferable.
However, in the technology proposed so far, for example, in the formation of a composite of finely divided cellulose fiber and polylactic acid (Patent Document 2), acetone is substituted for water, and the process becomes complicated. Fabrication of cellulose fiber-containing composite materials on a scale has been difficult.
In addition, when a cellulose fiber that has been hydrophobized is used (Patent Document 3), although the cellulose fiber and the thermoplastic resin can be easily combined, the thermoplastic resin used in this technology is a resin that does not undergo hydrolysis by water. It is a condition, the target resin is limited, and cannot be applied to polylactic acid.

On the other hand, cellulose refined into nano-sizes has the problem of forming strong agglomerates when dried, due to its own flexibility, high aspect ratio, and hydrogen bonding between fibers due to hydroxyl groups on the surface. is there. Since this agglomerate is not dissociated even by kneading with a molten resin as a matrix, for example, considering the dispersibility of cellulose fibers, a composite material preparation method that is in a dry state is actually a realistic manufacturing method That's not true.
For this reason, attempts have been made to combine cellulose without drying, but for example, a technique for combining powdered cellulose and resin as shown in Patent Document 1 is applied to nano-sized cellulose fibers. Then, it is necessary to remove water from the cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion. At this time, the cellulose fibers are aggregated to form an aggregate, and the resultant composite material is an aggregate in which the nano-sized cellulose fibers are aggregated dispersed in the resin.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is easy to combine cellulose fiber and a thermoplastic resin. When the obtained composite material is melt-blended with a thermoplastic resin such as polylactic acid. The present invention provides a production method capable of obtaining a composition having high dispersibility of cellulose fibers in a thermoplastic resin and excellent moldability.

  As a result of diligent investigations to solve the above problems, the present inventors have adopted a technique of producing fine particles of a thermoplastic resin by emulsion polymerization / dispersion polymerization in an aqueous medium, thereby obtaining nano-sized nano particles dispersed in water. Cellulose fiber (cellulose fiber dispersion) can be used as it is without passing through a dry state, and moreover, by allowing cellulose fiber to coexist in the reaction system, particles between particles can be obtained during emulsion polymerization / dispersion polymerization. A mixture (composite material) containing a particulate thermoplastic resin and cellulose fiber can be obtained without adding a stabilizer / dispersant that is usually required to suppress fusion and prevent secondary aggregation, and The composition comprising the mixture and the matrix resin becomes a composition in which the dispersibility of the cellulose fiber in the matrix resin is very high. Found that, it has led to the completion of the present invention.

  That is, the present invention relates to a mixture (composite material) in which thermoplastic resin fine particles and cellulose fibers are entangled.

The mixture (composite material) is preferably in powder form.
The cellulose fiber is preferably a fiber having a fiber diameter of 0.001 to 1 μm. The thermoplastic resin fine particles are preferably fine particles having an average primary particle diameter of 10 nm to 5 μm, and more preferably 50 nm to 1 μm.

  Moreover, this invention relates to the mixture (composite material) which further contains an additive as another component.

  The present invention is also directed to a cellulose fiber dispersion composition comprising the mixture (composite material) and a matrix resin that can be melt blended with the mixture.

  And this invention relates to the cellulose fiber dispersion molded object formed from the said composition.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for heating in an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fiber by heating at a temperature of 60 ° C. to 90 ° C. in the presence of a radical initiator selected from azo compounds, persulfates or organic peroxides. The mixture comprising: a step of polymerizing a monomer having a polymerizable group to form a plastic resin; a step of removing water from the polymerization reaction system; and a purification step of removing the radical initiator from the reaction system. The present invention relates to a method for producing (composite material).

In the production method, it is preferable to use a water-soluble radical initiator as the radical initiator. Alternatively, when a hydrophobic radical initiator is used as the radical initiator, the aqueous dispersion of the cellulose fiber is methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, tetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane, dimethyl sulfoxide, It is preferable to include at least one organic solvent selected from the group consisting of N, N-dimethylacetamide, N, N-dimethylformamide and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.
The polymerizable group is preferably an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group or a vinyl group.
Further, the purification step is preferably performed using a solvent in which the thermoplastic resin obtained by the polymerization is insoluble.
And based on 100 mass% of the total of the said cellulose fiber and the said monomer, it is preferable that the said cellulose fiber is used in the ratio of 0.1 thru | or 50 mass%.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for heating in an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fiber by heating at a temperature of 60 ° C. to 90 ° C. in the presence of a radical initiator selected from azo compounds, persulfates or organic peroxides. Forming a plastic resin, a step of polymerizing a monomer having a polymerizable group, a step of removing water from the polymerization reaction system, a purification step of removing the radical initiator from the reaction system, and after the purification step, The present invention is also directed to a method for producing the cellulose fiber dispersion composition, comprising a step of melt blending a mixture (composite material) obtained by drying and a matrix resin that can be melt blended with the mixture.

More specifically, the mixture (composite material) in which the thermoplastic resin fine particles and cellulose fibers of the present invention are entangled is present in a state where the cellulose fibers are entangled on the surface of the thermoplastic fine particles, and the cellulose fibers and the thermoplastic resin fine particles are present. In other words, it exists in a uniformly dispersed state.
In the mixture, if the thermoplastic resin is in the form of fine particles having an average primary particle diameter of 10 nm to 5 μm, the surface area of the fine particles becomes large, and the mixture is melt kneaded with a matrix resin such as a polylactic acid resin. When making a composite (composition) by this, heat is easily transferred to the thermoplastic resin and is easily melted. For this reason, at the time of melt kneading, the compatibility between the matrix resin and the thermoplastic resin is enhanced, and as a result, the dispersibility of the cellulose fibers existing in the state entangled with the thermoplastic resin fine particles is enhanced. Even if the thermoplastic resin (fine particles) is a resin having a glass transition temperature higher than that of the matrix resin, if it has a fine particle form, it will be in a molten state between the thermoplastic resins during melt blending. As a result, the uniformity of the resulting alloyed composite resin is increased.
Thus, the mixture (composite material) of the present invention is a fine particle in which the thermoplastic resin fine particles and cellulose fibers are entangled and the average primary particle diameter of the thermoplastic resin fine particles is very small. The dispersibility of cellulose fibers in a composition obtained by blending the mixture with a matrix resin can be made extremely excellent.
Further, since the mixture has a powder form, it can be easily extracted from the production apparatus during the production of the mixture, and can be used during melt blending of the mixture and the matrix resin, and further during molding of the melt-kneaded product (composition). , Handling will be improved.

Further, according to the production method of the present invention, a method for producing fine particles of a thermoplastic resin by dispersing and polymerizing a monomer having a polymerizable group, which forms a thermoplastic resin in an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fiber. By adopting, the composite of cellulose fiber and thermoplastic resin fine particles can be easily performed in one pot, and can be produced on an industrial scale without using a special apparatus.
In addition, according to this production method, the cellulose fibers and the thermoplastic resin fine particles are uniformly dispersed / composited without forming an aggregate of cellulose fibers which causes a problem when blended with the matrix resin thereafter. A mixture (composite material) in the form (powder) is obtained.
In the drying step of the mixture, the thermoplastic resin combined with the cellulose fiber is a fine particle, so that the surface area is large. Therefore, the drying efficiency is high, and the production efficiency of the mixture can be improved. .
According to the production method of the present invention, a cellulose fiber dispersion composition having high uniform dispersibility of cellulose fibers in polylactic acid and excellent moldability can be produced regardless of the cellulose species used. It is possible to produce a mixture (composite material) in which plastic fine particles and cellulose fibers are entangled and thus produce a cellulose fiber dispersion composition capable of producing a molded article having an excellent surface appearance from the mixture. it can.

1 is a scanning electron micrograph observing the mixture prepared in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a scanning electron micrograph observing the mixture prepared in Example 2. FIG. 3 is a polarizing microscope photograph observing the dispersion state of cellulose fibers in the cellulose fiber dispersion composition prepared in Example 5. FIG. 4 is a polarization micrograph observing the cellulose fiber dispersion composition produced in Example 6. FIG. 5 is a polarization micrograph of the cellulose fiber dispersion composition produced in Example 7. FIG. 6 is a polarization micrograph observing the cellulose fiber dispersion composition produced in Example 8. FIG. 7 is a polarization micrograph observing the cellulose fiber dispersion composition produced in Example 13. FIG. 8 is a polarization micrograph observing the cellulose fiber dispersion composition produced in Example 14. FIG. 9 is a polarization micrograph observing the cellulose fiber dispersion composition produced in Example 15. FIG. 10 is a polarizing micrograph of the cellulose fiber dispersion composition produced in Example 16. FIG. 11 is a polarization micrograph observing the composition prepared in Comparative Example 3. FIG. 12 is a polarizing micrograph of the composition prepared in Comparative Example 4.

As described above, the present invention eliminates the problem of the formation of aggregates of cellulose fibers accompanying the drying of the cellulose fibers when the cellulose fibers and the thermoplastic resin are combined, and the composite material can be obtained by a simpler process. In order to produce, the method of producing fine particles of thermoplastic resin by emulsion polymerization / dispersion polymerization in an aqueous medium is taken as a basis. Then, in place of the dispersant / stabilizer normally required during emulsion polymerization / dispersion polymerization, a mixture (composite) in which the particulate thermoplastic resin and the cellulose fiber are entangled by allowing the cellulose fiber to coexist. Material) is formed.
At this time, the surface of the fine particles of the thermoplastic resin is often hydrophobic and has a low affinity with cellulose having a hydrophilic surface. Therefore, when polymerized as it is, agglomerates are formed separately, and a non-uniform mixture ( Composite material). Therefore, by controlling the surface of the thermoplastic resin fine particles by selecting a polymerization initiator to be used, that is, by using a radical initiator having a polar group such as an amino group, a hydroxyl group, or a carboxyl group, the thermoplastic resin is used. It is possible to increase the affinity between fine particles and cellulose.
Thus, by variously examining the polymerization method, polymerization conditions, selection of radical initiator, etc., the mixture (composite material) of the present invention and the production method thereof were completed. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

[Mixture in which thermoplastic resin fine particles and cellulose fiber are entangled (composite material)]
The present invention relates to a mixture (composite material) in which thermoplastic resin fine particles and cellulose fibers are entangled.
The mixture is a polymerization reaction of a monomer having a polymerizable group, which forms a thermoplastic resin by heating at 60 ° C. to 90 ° C. in the presence of a radical initiator in an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fiber. And the purification step of removing the radical initiator from the reaction system.
The mixture (composite material) of the present invention thus obtained can be isolated by an extremely simple method such as filtration, without the cellulose fiber forming an aggregate by itself.
Hereinafter, the mixture (composite material) of the present invention will be described in detail along with its production procedure.

<Process of polymerizing a monomer having a polymerizable group in an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fiber>
First, in an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fiber, a thermoplastic resin is formed by heating at a temperature of 60 ° C. to 90 ° C. in the presence of a radical initiator selected from azo compounds, persulfates or organic peroxides. A monomer having a polymerizable group is polymerized.
By polymerizing the monomer under such polymerization conditions, a fine particle polymer can be obtained.

  The cellulose used in the cellulose fiber (aqueous dispersion in which cellulose fiber is dispersed) used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include cellulose fibers derived from higher plants, bamboo fibers, sugarcane fibers, seed hair fibers, gin leather fibers, Examples include natural cellulose fibers such as leaf fibers, cellulose fibers derived from animals, cellulose fibers derived from bacteria, and the like. These celluloses may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

In the present invention, cellulose fibers pulverized and refined are used. The pulverization method of cellulose is not particularly limited, and can be produced using a wet pulverization method using a bead mill or a homogenizer. Specifically, a wet pulverization method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-270891, that is, a cellulose dispersion is dispersed by injecting a cellulose dispersion at a high pressure from a pair of nozzles. For example, a high-pressure crusher manufactured by Sugino Machine Co., Ltd. can be used.
The cellulose fiber thus refined has a fiber diameter of 0.001 to 1 μm.

When the cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion obtained by the wet pulverization method is used for the subsequent production of the mixture, the aqueous dispersion having a higher cellulose fiber concentration improves the volumetric efficiency during the production of the mixture, There is an advantage that cost reduction can be expected. On the other hand, since the cellulose fiber has a remarkably high aspect ratio and the entanglement between the fibers cannot be ignored, if the concentration of the cellulose fiber is too high, the increase in the viscosity accompanying the increase in the concentration is remarkable and handling as a liquid becomes difficult. For this reason, the cellulose fiber concentration of the cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion is preferably 0.1 to 10% by mass, more preferably 1 to 5% by mass.

The amount of the monomer having a polymerizable group added to the cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion is preferably larger than the content of the cellulose fiber contained in the aqueous dispersion, that is, the cellulose fiber content in the dispersion and When the total amount of the monomers is 100% by mass, the monomer having a polymerizable group is 99.9 to 50% by mass, and therefore the cellulose fiber content is 0.1 to 50% by mass of the total amount. % Is preferred.
More preferably, the amount of the monomer having a polymerizable group added to the dispersion is 99 to 70% by mass of the total amount of the monomer and the cellulose fiber, that is, the content of the cellulose fiber is 1 to 30% of the total amount. It is more preferable to set it as the mass%.
If a monomer having a polymerizable group is not present in a large amount with respect to the cellulose fiber, the fibers are aggregated when a composition is obtained by melt blending with a thermoplastic resin such as polylactic acid in a later step. There is a risk of forming a lump. For this reason, in order to obtain a composition in which cellulose fibers are uniformly dispersed in the composition, it is important that a monomer having a polymerizable group is present in a large amount with respect to the cellulose fibers as shown in the above blending amount. is there.

  The monomer having a polymerizable group used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a monomer that forms a thermoplastic resin after polymerization. Among them, a monomer having an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group, or a vinyl group is used. preferable. Specifically, acrylic acid monomers such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate; styrene, α- Examples thereof include aromatic vinyl monomers such as methylstyrene; vinyl acetate alkyl monomers such as vinyl acetate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl propionate and vinyl laurate. You may use the monomer which has a polymeric group individually or in combination of 2 or more types.

  The radical initiator used in the present invention is selected from an azo compound, a persulfate, or an organic peroxide, and either a water-soluble initiator or a hydrophobic initiator can be used. By using an azo compound, a persulfate or an organic peroxide as a radical initiator, a mixture in which fine particles of polymer and cellulose fiber are uniformly dispersed can be formed after the monomer is polymerized.

Specific examples of the radical initiator include hydrophobic azo compounds such as azobisisobutyronitrile and 2,2′-azobis (2-methylbutyronitrile), 2,2′-azobis [2- ( 2-Imidazolin-2-yl) propane] dihydrochloride, 2,2'-azobis [2- (2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane] and 2,2'-azobis [2-methyl-N- (2 Water-soluble azo compounds such as -hydroxyethyl) propionamide]; persulfates such as potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate and sodium persulfate; organic peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide .
The radical initiator is preferably added in an amount of 0.01 to 100 mol%, more preferably 1 to 10 mol%, based on the monomer having a polymerizable group.

When a hydrophobic initiator such as azobisisobutyronitrile is used as the radical initiator, the hydrophobic initiator is dissolved and an organic solvent having an affinity for water is added to form a powder. A thermoplastic resin is obtained.
Examples of the organic solvent include methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, tetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane, dimethyl sulfoxide, N, N-dimethylacetamide, N, N-dimethylformamide, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. Can be mentioned. You may use an organic solvent individually or in combination of 2 or more types.
The organic peroxide and persulfate can also be used as a redox initiator in combination with a reducing agent.

  The average primary particle diameter of the fine particles of the thermoplastic resin formed by polymerizing the monomer having a polymerizable group in this manner is preferably 10 nm to 5 μm, more preferably 50 nm to 1 μm.

<Step of removing water from the polymerization reaction system and purification step of removing the radical initiator>
Following the monomer polymerization step, water is removed from the reaction system. This step is easily carried out by filtering after confirming the completion of the polymerization.
Thereafter, the purification step for removing the radical initiator is carried out using a solvent in which the polymer obtained in the previous step is insoluble. Specifically, the residue obtained by filtration in the previous step is washed with water, methanol, ethanol, acetone or the like.
The resin thus precipitated is preferably dried at 25 to 100 ° C., for example, by vacuum drying in order to remove the solvent used for the washing, so that a mixture (composite) in which thermoplastic resin fine particles and cellulose fibers are entangled. Material).

[Cellulose fiber dispersion composition containing the mixture (composite material) and a matrix resin]
A cellulose fiber dispersion composition comprising the mixture (composite material) thus obtained and a matrix resin that can be melt blended with the mixture is also an object of the present invention.
As the matrix resin, a thermoplastic resin (polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, ABS, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate, which can be molded at a temperature at which cellulose is decomposed (about 240 ° C.) or lower. , Ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, etc.).

<Other additives>
The composition of the present invention may contain a known inorganic filler. Examples of the inorganic filler include glass fiber, carbon fiber, talc, mica, silica, kaolin, clay, wollastonite, glass beads, glass flake, potassium titanate, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, titanium oxide and the like. Can be mentioned. The shape of these inorganic fillers may be any of fibrous, granular, plate-like, needle-like, spherical, and powder. These inorganic fillers can be used within 300 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of polylactic acid.
Moreover, the composition of this invention may contain a well-known flame retardant. Examples of the flame retardant include halogen flame retardants such as bromine compounds and chlorine compounds, melamine flame retardants, antimony flame retardants such as antimony trioxide and antimony pentoxide, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and silicone compounds. Examples thereof include inorganic flame retardants, red phosphorus, phosphoric acid esters, phosphorous flame retardants such as ammonium polyphosphate, phosphazene, and fluorine resins such as PTFE. These flame retardants can be used within 200 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of polylactic acid.
In addition to the above components, heat stabilizers, light stabilizers, UV absorbers, antioxidants, impact modifiers, antistatic agents, pigments, colorants, mold release agents, lubricants, plasticizers, compatibilizers, foaming Agents, fragrances, antibacterial and antifungal agents, other various fillers, and various additives usually used in the production of general synthetic resins can also be used in combination with the composition of the present invention.
Note that a mixture (composite material) further containing these <other additives> is also an object of the present invention.

  The composition of the present invention can easily produce various molded articles by using a conventional molding method such as injection molding, blow molding, vacuum molding, compression molding or the like.

The cellulose fiber aqueous dispersions used in the following Examples 1 to 4, Example 9 to Example 12, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 are disclosed in “Patent Wet of Polysaccharides” disclosed in JP-A-2005-270891. 1.0% by mass, 0.7% by mass or 3.5% by mass of pulp-derived cellulose fiber water prepared using commercially available pulp-derived cellulose (BH-100 manufactured by Celite) in accordance with the procedure of “Crushing method”. It is a dispersion.

<Example 1 to Example 4: Production of a mixture (composite material) using an azo compound as a radical initiator>
[Example 1]
Acetic acid 0.5g and methyl methacrylate 2.75g were added to 1.0 mass% pulp origin cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion, and it heated at 80 degreeC. Separately, 30 mg of acetic acid and 100 mg of 2,2′-azobis [2- (2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane] as a radical initiator were added to 3 g of water to prepare an aqueous initiator solution. This aqueous solution was added to the cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion heated to 80 ° C. and stirred at 80 ° C. Heating and stirring were stopped and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature. After confirming that the polymerization was completed, water was removed by filtration. The residue after removing the water was washed with 100 g of methanol and 100 g of water, and vacuum dried at 40 ° C. to prepare 2.73 g of a mixture (composite material).
Weight average molecular weight of polymethyl methacrylate (hereinafter abbreviated as PMMA) of the obtained mixture; 92,000 (measuring device: HLC-8220GPC manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, standard sample: polystyrene)

[Example 2]
Add 65.8 mg of azobisisobutyronitrile dissolved in 10 g of ethanol to 50 g of 1.0 mass% pulp-derived cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion, add 2.75 g of methyl methacrylate, and heat to 70 ° C. with stirring. went. Heating and stirring were stopped and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature. After confirming that the polymerization was completed, water was removed by filtration. The residue after removing the water was washed with 100 g of methanol and 100 g of water, and vacuum dried at 40 ° C. to produce 2.79 g of a mixture (composite material).
PMMA weight average molecular weight of the obtained mixture: 310,000 (measuring device: HLC-8220GPC manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, standard sample: polystyrene)

[Example 3]
To 68 g of 0.7 mass% pulp-derived cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion, 0.7 g of acetic acid and 104 mg of 2,2′-azobis [2- (2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane] as a radical initiator are added and stirred. Then, 2.41 g of vinyl acetate was added, and the mixture was heated to 70 ° C. and stirred. Heating and stirring were stopped and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature. After confirming that the polymerization was completed, water was removed by filtration. The residue after removing the water was washed with 100 g of water and vacuum dried at 40 ° C. to produce 2.04 g of a mixture (composite material).
Weight average molecular weight of polyvinyl acetate of the obtained mixture: 1,255,000 (measuring device: HLC-8220GPC manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, standard sample: polystyrene)

[Example 4]
Acetic acid 0.7g and methyl methacrylate 8.40g were added to 3.5 mass% pulp origin cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion 68g, and it heated at 70 degreeC. Separately, 90 mg of acetic acid and 300 mg of 2,2′-azobis [2- (2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane] as a radical initiator were added to 9 g of water to prepare an aqueous initiator solution. This aqueous solution was added to the cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion and stirred at 70 ° C. Heating and stirring were stopped and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature. After confirming that the polymerization was completed, water was removed by filtration. The residue after removing the water was washed with methanol and water, vacuum dried at 40 ° C., and a mixture (composite material) 9.9.
0 g was produced.
PMMA weight average molecular weight of the obtained mixture: 161,000 (measuring device: HLC-8220GPC manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, standard sample: polystyrene)

<Example 5 thru | or Example 8: Manufacture of the cellulose fiber dispersion composition using the mixture (composite material) produced in Example 1 thru | or Example 4>
[Example 5]
Melting and kneading (200 ° C., 50 rpm, 5) 0.26 g of the mixture (composite material) prepared in Example 1 and 3.74 g of polylactic acid (manufactured by NatureWorks Co., Ltd. 3001D) with Labo Plast Mill Micro (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) To prepare a cellulose fiber dispersion composition containing polylactic acid as a main component.

[Example 6]
Melting and kneading (200 ° C., 50 rpm, 5) 0.26 g of the mixture (composite material) prepared in Example 2 and 3.74 g of polylactic acid (manufactured by NatureWorks Co., Ltd. 3001D) using Labo Plast Mill Micro (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) To prepare a cellulose fiber dispersion composition containing polylactic acid as a main component.

[Example 7]
Melting and kneading (200 ° C., 50 rpm, 5) 0.26 g of the mixture (composite material) prepared in Example 3 and 3.74 g of polylactic acid (manufactured by NatureWorks Co., Ltd., 3001D) using Labo Plast Mill Micro (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.) To prepare a cellulose fiber dispersion composition containing polylactic acid as a main component.

[Example 8]
Melting and kneading (200 ° C., 50 rpm, 5) 0.26 g of the mixture (composite material) prepared in Example 4 and 3.74 g of polylactic acid (manufactured by NatureWorks Co., Ltd. 3001D) using Labo Plast Mill Micro (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) To prepare a cellulose fiber dispersion composition containing polylactic acid as a main component.

<Example 9 and Example 10: Production of mixture (composite material) using persulfate as radical initiator>
[Example 9]
2.68 g of methyl methacrylate was added to 68 g of 0.7 mass% pulp-derived cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion, and the mixture was heated to 80 ° C. Separately, 218 mg of potassium persulfate as a radical initiator was added to 4 g of water to prepare an aqueous initiator solution. This aqueous solution was added to the cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion and stirred at 80 ° C. Heating and stirring were stopped and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature. After confirming that the polymerization was completed, water was removed by filtration. The residue after removing the water was washed with 100 g of methanol and 100 g of water and vacuum dried at 40 ° C. to produce 2.99 g of a mixture (composite material).
PMMA weight average molecular weight of the obtained mixture: 141,000 (measuring device: HLC-8220GPC manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, standard sample: polystyrene)

[Example 10]
To 60 g of 0.7 mass% pulp-derived cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion, 3.96 g of methyl methacrylate was added and heated to 80 ° C. Separately, 920 mg of ammonium persulfate as a radical initiator was added to 2 g of water to prepare an aqueous initiator solution. This aqueous solution was added to the cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion and stirred at 80 ° C. Heating and stirring were stopped and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature, and after confirming that the polymerization was completed, neutralization was performed using a 6N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, and water was removed by filtration. After removing the water, the residue is 100 g of methanol and 10
Washing with 0 g and vacuum drying at 40 ° C. produced 2.95 g of a mixture (composite material).
PMMA weight average molecular weight of the obtained mixture: 118,000 (measuring device: HLC-8220GPC manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, standard sample: polystyrene)

<Example 11 and Example 12: Production of a mixture (composite material) using an azo compound different from Examples 1 to 4 as a radical initiator>
[Example 11]
2.75 g of methyl methacrylate was added to 50 g of 1.0 mass% pulp-derived cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion and heated to 80 ° C. Separately, 100 mg of 2,2′-azobis [2- (2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane] dihydrochloride as a radical initiator was added to 3 g of water to prepare an aqueous initiator solution. This aqueous solution was added to the cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion and stirred at 80 ° C. Heating and stirring were stopped and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature. After confirming that the polymerization was completed, water was removed by filtration. The residue after removing the water was washed with 100 g of methanol and 100 g of water, and vacuum-dried at 40 ° C. to produce 2.29 g of a mixture (composite material).
PMMA weight average molecular weight of the obtained mixture: 115,000 (measuring device: HLC-8220GPC manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, standard sample: polystyrene)

[Example 12]
To 50 g of 1.0 mass% pulp-derived cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion, 5.00 g of methyl methacrylate and 297 mg of 2,2′-azobis [2-methyl-N- (2-hydroxyethyl) propionamide] are added to 75 ° C. Heated and stirred. Heating and stirring were stopped and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature. After confirming that the polymerization was completed, water was removed by filtration. The residue after removing the water was washed with 100 g of methanol and 100 g of water, and vacuum dried at 40 ° C. to prepare a mixture (composite material).
PMMA weight average molecular weight of the obtained mixture: 612,000 (measuring device: HLC-8220GPC manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, standard sample: polystyrene)

<Example 13 and Example 14: Production of cellulose fiber dispersion composition using mixture (composite material) produced in Example 9 and Example 10>
[Example 13]
Melting and kneading (200 ° C., 50 rpm, 5) 0.26 g of the mixture (composite material) prepared in Example 9 and 3.74 g of polylactic acid (manufactured by NatureWorks, Inc., 3001D) using Labo Plast Mill Micro (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) To prepare a cellulose fiber dispersion composition containing polylactic acid as a main component.

[Example 14]
Melting and kneading (200 ° C., 50 rpm, 5) 0.40 g of the mixture (composite material) prepared in Example 10 and 3.60 g of polylactic acid (manufactured by NatureWorks Co., Ltd., 3001D) using Labo Plast Mill Micro (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) To prepare a cellulose fiber dispersion composition containing polylactic acid as a main component.

<Example 15 and Example 16: Manufacture of a cellulose fiber dispersion composition using the mixture (composite material) prepared in Example 11 and Example 1>
[Example 15]
Melting and kneading (200 ° C., 50 rpm, 5) 0.26 g of the mixture (composite material) prepared in Example 11 and 3.74 g of polylactic acid (manufactured by NatureWorks Co., Ltd., 3001D) using Labo Plast Mill Micro (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) To prepare a cellulose fiber dispersion composition containing polylactic acid as a main component.

[Example 16]
0.26 g of the mixture (composite material) prepared in Example 1 and 3.74 g of polymethyl methacrylate were melt-kneaded (240 ° C., 50 rpm, 5 minutes) with Labo Plast Mill Micro (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) A cellulose fiber dispersion composition mainly composed of polymethyl methacrylate was prepared.

[Comparative Example 1]
This comparative example is different from the examples of the present specification in that a monomer having a polymerizable group is not polymerized in an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fiber.
To 50 g of water, 2.75 g of methyl methacrylate and 0.5 g of acetic acid were added and heated to 80 ° C. Separately, 36 mg of acetic acid and 100 mg of 2,2′-azobis [2- (2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane] as a radical initiator were added to 3 g of water to prepare an aqueous initiator solution. This aqueous solution was added to an aqueous methyl methacrylate solution maintained at 80 ° C., and the mixture was heated to 80 ° C. and stirred. Heating and stirring were stopped and the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature, and after confirming that the polymerization was complete, 68 g of 0.7 mass% pulp-derived cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion was added. After stirring, water was removed by filtration. The residue after removing the water was washed with 100 g of methanol and 100 g of water, and vacuum dried at 40 ° C. to prepare 2.73 g of a mixture (composite material).
The weight average molecular weight of PMMA of the obtained mixture (composite material): 55,000 (measuring device: HLC-8220GPC manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, standard sample: polystyrene)

[Comparative Example 2]
This comparative example differs from the examples in this specification in that an initiator that is neither an azo compound, a persulfate, nor an organic peroxide is used.
To 68 g of 0.7 mass% pulp-derived cellulose fiber aqueous dispersion, 2.75 g of methyl methacrylate and 0.83 g of diammonium cerium nitrate were added and stirred at room temperature. After stirring for 48 hours, water was removed by filtration. The residue after removing the water was washed with methanol and water, and vacuum-dried at 40 ° C. to produce 1.02 g of a mixture (composite material).
PMMA weight average molecular weight of the obtained mixture (composite material): 549,000 (measuring device: HLC-8220GPC manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, standard sample: polystyrene)

[Comparative Example 3]
0.26 g of the mixture (composite material) prepared in Comparative Example 1 and 3.74 g of polylactic acid (3001D manufactured by NatureWorks) were melt-kneaded (200 ° C., 50 rpm, 5) using Labo Plast Mill Micro (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho). To prepare a composition containing polylactic acid as a main component.

[Comparative Example 4]
Melting and kneading (200 ° C., 50 rpm, 5) 0.26 g of the mixture (composite material) prepared in Comparative Example 2 and 3.74 g of polylactic acid (3001D manufactured by NatureWorks) with Labo Plast Mill Micro (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho) To prepare a composition containing polylactic acid as a main component.

[Observation of mixture (composite material) by scanning electron microscope]
About each mixture (composite material) produced in Example 1 and Example 2, the state of the mixture which consists of microparticles | fine-particles of a cellulose fiber and PMMA (thermoplastic resin) was observed using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results are shown in FIGS.
In addition, the used scanning electron microscope is as follows.
<Measurement device> JSM-7400F manufactured by JEOL (JEOL Ltd.)

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the mixture (composite material) produced in Example 1 and Example 2, the cellulose fiber is in a state of being entangled on the surface of the fine particles of PMMA, and is so-called embraced between the fine particles. It was confirmed to exist in the state.
From these micrographs, the particle size of the PMMA fine particles was in the range of 50 nm to 1 μm.

[Observation of cellulose fiber dispersion composition by polarizing microscope]
About each composition produced in Example 5 thru | or Example 8, Example 13 thru | or Example 16, and Comparative Example 3 and Comparative Example 4, the dispersion state of the cellulose fiber in each composition was observed using the polarization microscope. The results are shown in FIGS.
In addition, the imaging conditions of the polarization micrograph are as follows.
<Measuring device> Polarized microscope ECLIPSE LV100POL manufactured by Nikon Corporation
<Measurement conditions> The composition is heated to 200 ° C and the molten state is observed.

In FIG. 3 to FIG. 12, the white and high-brightness portion indicates the presence of cellulose. In addition, when the dispersibility of cellulose in the cellulose fiber dispersion composition is very high (eg; FIG. 5: Example 7, FIG. 8: Example 14, FIG. 10: Example 16), the portion with high luminance disappears. Looks like.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 10, each of the cellulose fiber dispersion compositions prepared in Examples 5 to 8 and Examples 13 to 16 has a dispersibility of cellulose fibers in polylactic acid or polymethyl methacrylate. Was observed to be high. On the other hand, in the compositions prepared in Comparative Example 3 and Comparative Example 4 (FIGS. 11 and 12), cellulose was agglomerated as compared with Examples, and it was observed that the dispersibility was poor.

[Cellulose fiber dispersibility evaluation]
The polarization micrographs of the compositions prepared in Examples 5 to 8, Example 13 to Example 16, and Comparative Examples 3 and 4 were observed, and the size of the aggregates of cellulose fibers found in the photographed photographs. Was evaluated. And based on the reference | standard of following Table 1, the dispersibility of the cellulose fiber was evaluated. The obtained results are shown in Table 2.
Evaluation method: Evaluation of aggregate size by visually observing a polarized micrograph

As shown in Table 2, the cellulose fiber dispersion compositions of Examples 5 to 8 and Examples 13 to 16 did not show the presence of agglomerates of cellulose fibers exceeding 50 μm in polarized light micrographs, and cellulose fibers The result that it was excellent in the dispersibility of was obtained.
On the other hand, the compositions of Comparative Example 3 and Comparative Example 4 were confirmed to be inferior in dispersibility of cellulose fibers because the presence of aggregates of cellulose fibers exceeding 100 μm was confirmed in polarized light micrographs.

JP 2005-145028 A JP 2007-238812 A JP 2010-106251 A

Claims (14)

A mixture in which thermoplastic resin fine particles and cellulose fibers are entangled. The mixture of claim 1 in powder form. The mixture according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cellulose fiber has a fiber diameter of 0.001 to 1 µm. The mixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thermoplastic resin fine particles have an average primary particle size of 10 nm to 5 µm. The mixture as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 which further contains an additive as another component. A cellulose fiber dispersion composition comprising the mixture according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a matrix resin that can be melt blended with the mixture. A cellulose fiber dispersion molded article formed from the composition according to claim 6. A thermoplastic resin is formed by heating at 60 ° C. to 90 ° C. in the presence of a radical initiator selected from azo compounds, persulfates or organic peroxides in an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fibers. A step of polymerizing a monomer having a polymerizable group,
A step of removing water from the polymerization reaction system, and a purification step of removing the radical initiator from the reaction system,
The manufacturing method of the mixture as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5 containing these. The production method according to claim 8, wherein a water-soluble radical initiator is used as the radical initiator. In the case where a hydrophobic radical initiator is used as the radical initiator, the aqueous dispersion of the cellulose fiber is methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, tetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane, dimethyl sulfoxide, N The production method according to claim 8, comprising at least one organic solvent selected from the group consisting of N, N-dimethylacetamide, N, N-dimethylformamide and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the polymerizable group is an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group, or a vinyl group. The said refinement | purification process is a manufacturing method as described in any one of Claims 8 thru | or 11 performed using the solvent in which the thermoplastic resin obtained by the said polymerization is insoluble. The cellulose fiber according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the cellulose fiber is used in a proportion of 0.1 to 50% by mass based on a total of 100% by mass of the cellulose fiber and the monomer. Production method. A thermoplastic resin is formed by heating at 60 ° C. to 90 ° C. in the presence of a radical initiator selected from azo compounds, persulfates or organic peroxides in an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fibers. A step of polymerizing a monomer having a polymerizable group,
Removing water from the polymerization reaction system;
A purification step of removing the radical initiator from the reaction system, and a step of melt-blending a mixture obtained by drying after the purification step and a matrix resin that can be melt-blended with the mixture;
The manufacturing method of the cellulose fiber dispersion composition of Claim 6 containing this.