Influence of solvent polarity on surface-fluorination of cellulose nanofiber by ball milling

Ball mill-assisted surface-fluorination of cellulose nanofiber was studied for two solvents with different polarity as dispersion/reaction medium. Milling cellulose in neat toluene gave irregular-shaped decrystallized cellulose particles; addition of pentafluorobenzoyl chloride (PFBC) to the system gave partially fluorinated cellulose as thin flakes with smooth surfaces, which maintained original crystallinity. Milling in neat dimethyl formamide (DMF) caused partial dispersion of nanofibers without decrystallization; milling in PFBC/DMF gave more enhanced dispersion of surface-fluorinated nanofibers. Both fluorinated materials were hydrophobic, with water contact angles of 103°–113°. Bulk degree of esterification was 0.20 for toluene and 0.57 for DMF systems. These results show characteristic influences of solvent species in reactive ball milling of cellulose in terms of fibrillation and surface esterification of nanofibers.