Interfacial energy dissipation in a cellulose nanowhisker composite

Cyclic tensile and compressive deformation is applied to cellulose nanowhisker–epoxy resin based model nanocomposites. The molecular deformation of the cellulose nanowhiskers within the epoxy resin matrix is followed using a Raman spectroscopy technique, whereby shifts in the position of a band located at ∼ 1095 cm ^{− 1} are shown to correlate directly with a breakdown in the interfaces between the resin and the nanowhiskers and between nanowhiskers themselves. A theoretical model is used to determine the dissipation of energy at the interfaces between whiskers and at the whisker–matrix interface. This approach is shown to be useful for interpreting the local micromechanics of these materials by providing a quantitative measure of the quality of the interface.