Enhanced mechanical properties of nanocellulose additive acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with thermal annealing

This twin-screw extrusion and injection molding study examined the mechanical and thermal effects of cellulose nanocomposite content on ABS/nanocellulose composites (CNC). Mechanical tests showed that the 3% CNC-reinforced ABS composite had the highest tensile modulus and flexural strength exceeding pure ABS and other CNC concentrations. 5%wt CNC increased stiffness but decreased tensile strength due to agglomeration. CNC inclusion significantly reduced impact strength at 5%wt CNC compared to pure ABS. DSC showed that CNC concentration enhanced glass transition temperature, peaking at 5%wt CNC due to greater interfacial hydrogen bonding. Thermal annealing at 120°C increased tensile strength by 5% (1CNC), 7% (3CNC), and 5.4% (5CNC) over 90°C. At 1% and 3% loadings, SEM showed homogeneous CNC dispersion, but 5%wt CNC had voids and clusters.