Cellulose Nanocrystal–Reinforced Polyvinyl Acetate Nanolatex for Viscose Fabric Prepregs and Composite Materials

ABSTRACT In this study, polyvinyl acetate (PVAc)‐based nanocomposite latexes containing varying loads of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), a sodium salt of sulfated nanocrystalline cellulose, were synthesized and utilized as a matrix for fabricating fiber‐reinforced composites with viscose fabric. A CNC‐free PVAc matrix was used as the reference. The composites were fabricated via compression molding of hand‐layup‐prepared prepregs. The objective of this study was to assess the applicability of CNC‐modified latexes as a matrix and evaluate the effect of CNC loading on composite performance and properties. CNC incorporation was characterized by FTIR to identify the hydroxyl groups and their potential interactions with the matrix and fabric. Mechanical testing was performed via tensile, impact, flexural, and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) measurements. Although CNC addition reduced the elastic modulus, all samples demonstrated higher elongation at break, with a maximum increase of 31%. The 1.2 wt% CNC‐loaded composite exhibited the most promising performance, showing a 13.7% increase in ultimate tensile strength, a 36.2% increase in impact resistance, and an improvement of 56% and 46% in flexural strength and ILSS, respectively. Microscopic analyses revealed that CNC incorporation enhanced the structural integrity of the composite layers. These findings highlight the potential of CNC‐reinforced PVAc latexes in the development of sustainable composite materials.