Preparation and properties of biodegradable films from Sterculia urens short fiber/cellulose green composites

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2013-04, Vol.93 (2), p.622-627
• Main Authors: Jayaramudu, J., Reddy, G. Siva Mohan, Varaprasad, K., Sadiku, E.R., Sinha Ray, S., Varada Rajulu, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; biocomposites; biodegradability; Biodegradable films; biodegradation; buried soils; Cellulose; Cellulose - isolation & purification; Cellulose - metabolism; Cellulose - ultrastructure; Composites; Elastic Modulus; Exact sciences and technology; films (materials); food packaging; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Green Chemistry Technology - methods; Green composites; Mechanical properties; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; natural resources; Polymer industry, paints, wood; scanning electron microscopy; sodium hydroxide; Sodium Hydroxide - metabolism; Soil - chemistry; Sterculia - metabolism; Sterculia urens; Sterculia urens short fiber; Technology of polymers; Temperature; Tensile Strength; Textiles - analysis; thermal stability; Thermogravimetry
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.01.032

► Newly identified fabrics from the tree Sterculia urens were extracted. ► Cellulose matrix/S. urens short fiber as a reinforcement films were prepared by a ‘green’ way. ► The green composite films are safe, stable and biodegradable. ► Thermal stability and mechanical properties of green composites were improved. ► These green composite films showed potential application in the packaging and biomaterials field. The development of commercially viable “green products”, based on natural resources for the matrices and reinforcements, in a wide range of applications, is on the rise. The present paper focuses on Sterculia urens short fiber reinforced pure cellulose matrix composite films. The morphologies of the untreated and 5% NaOH (alkali) treated S. urens fibers were observed by SEM. The effect of 5% NaOH treated S. urens fiber (5, 10, 15 and 20% loading) on the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the composites films is discussed. This paper presents the developments made in the area of biodegradable S. urens short fiber/cellulose (SUSF/cellulose) composite films, buried in the soil and later investigated by the (POM), before and after biodegradation has taken place. SUSF/cellulose composite films have great potential in food packaging and for medical applications.