Universal approach of cellulose fibres chemical modification result analysis via commonly used techniques

This article considers the modification of cellulose fibres with the use of vinyltrimethoxysilane and maleic anhydride as substances to improve the wettability of the additive in the hydrophobic polymer matrix. The stress is put on the possible ways of modification impact investigation and its description. Effects of the treatment are analysed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which reveal the presence of new moieties on the cellulose surface, e.g. C=C bonds, C=O and Si–C groups, while dynamic light scattering investigation revealed an increase in the hydrodynamic radii of the molecules which was maximized in the case of modification with the use of maleic anhydride. Furthermore, thermal properties were defined with differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Some variations within the process of samples thermal degradation are observed—thermal stability of the specimen modified with maleic anhydride is the highest. The presented approach of combined fibre modification analysis techniques, being a scientific novelty, allows to confirm the treatment impact on cellulose properties at many levels. Graphical abstract