In this study, cellulose nanowhiskers from sugar palm fibers were isolated by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The dimension of neutralized and un-neutralized obtained nanowhiskers was similar of each other. Two films from cellulose nanowhiskers suspension (without and with neutralization) were produced using a vacuum filtration technique. Comparing with native cellulose, the decomposition of nanowhiskers started at lower temperature. Meanwhile after neutralization of its acid sulfate groups the decomposition of nanowhiskers shifted to higher temperature to be close to native cellulose. This work indicated that the neutralization of acid sulfate groups improved the mechanical properties of cellulose nanowhiskers film while morphology, thermal stability, degree of crystallinity and chemical composition of cellulose nanowhiskers obtained could be maintained.
Key words: Sugar palm fiber, nanofibers, nanowhisker, sulfate group
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