Mechanical and barrier properties of nanocrystalline cellulose reinforced chitosan based nanocomposite films

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2012-11, Vol.90 (4), p.1601-1608
• Main Authors: Khan, Avik, Khan, Ruhul A., Salmieri, Stephane, Le Tien, Canh, Riedl, Bernard, Bouchard, Jean, Chauve, Gregory, Tan, Victor, Kamal, Musa R., Lacroix, Monique
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Barrier properties; biodegradability; Biodegradable; cellulose; Cellulose - chemistry; Chitosan; Chitosan - chemistry; Composites; Emerging diseases; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Human health and pathology; Life Sciences; Mechanical properties; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Nanocomposite films; nanocomposites; Nanocomposites - chemistry; Nanocomposites - ultrastructure; Nanocrystalline cellulose; nanocrystals; permeability; Polymer industry, paints, wood; scanning electron microscopy; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Steam; Technology of polymers; Tensile Strength; thermal analysis; thermal properties; water vapor; X-Ray Diffraction
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.07.037

► NCC reinforced chitosan-based films were prepared by casting. ► Incorporation of only 5% (w/w) NCC improved the TS of the chitosan films by 24%. ► Favorable NCC–chitosan interaction and effective stress transfer. ► NCC incorporation enhanced the barrier properties of the films. ► SEM images revealed proper dispersion of NCC into chitosan matrix. Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) reinforced chitosan-based biodegradable films were prepared by solution casting. The NCC content in the films was varied from 1 to 10% (dry wt. basis). It was found that the tensile strength (TS) of the nanocomposite films with 5% (w/w) NCC content was optimum with an improvement of 26% compared to the control chitosan films. Incorporation of NCC also significantly improved barrier properties. Water vapor permeability (WVP) of the chitosan/NCC films was decreased by 27% for the optimum 5% (w/w) NCC content. Swelling studies revealed a decrease in water uptake of the NCC-reinforced chitosan films. Analyses of thermal properties showed no significant effect of NCC whereas X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the appearance of crystalline peaks in the nanocomposite films. Surface morphology of the films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and it was found that NCC was dispersed homogenously into chitosan matrix.