For high-performance composite materials, cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) have a range of promising properties leading to fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. However, there are still many problems: ① low-cost production, ② dispersion of CNF in apolar resins, ③ interfacial reinforcement between CNF and resins. We have demonstrated a versatile approach for preparation of CNF-reinforced resin nanocomposite materials with the assist of well-designed diblock copolymers as a novel polymer dispersant. This success was based on recent development of controlled polymerizations, especially living radical polymerizations, which enables us to precisely design and synthesize well-defined, functional polymeric dispersants.

References
①　Keita Sakakibara, Kyoko Konishi, Hideki Kagata, Taiyo Aoyagi, Takahiro Imai, Yoshinobu Tsujii, and Hiroyuki Yano, [Plastic Materials Reinforced with Cellulose Nanofibers Using Polymer Dispersant]、Preprints of Seikei-kakou Annual Meeting 2013,B-217,May 21-22, 2013,Tokyo
The Japan Society of Polymer Processing_2013_Abstract
②　Keita Sakakibara,[Cellulose Nanofiber-Based Composite Materials with Polymer Brush Components],SEN'I GAKKAISHI Vol.70, 276-280 (2014).
Sen'i To Kogyo_Sakakibara

Questionnaire 2014/Shinshu University Faculty of Textile Science and Technology Fii