Abstract
This research investigated the development of bio-based composites comprising bacterial cellulose (BC), as obtained by static culture, and acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) as an alternative to leather. AESO was first emulsified; polyethylene glycol (PEG), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and perfluorocarbon-based polymers were also added to the AESO emulsion, with the mixtures being diffused into the BC 3D nanofibrillar matrix by an exhaustion process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis demonstrated that the tested polymers penetrated well and uniformly into the bulk of the BC matrix. The obtained composites were hydrophobic and thermally stable up to 200 °C. Regarding their mechanical properties, the addition of different polymers lead to a decrease in the tensile strength and an increase in the elongation at break, overall presenting satisfactory performance as a potential alternative to leather.
Highlights
The tannery industry faces several challenges associated with high environmental impact, scarcity of raw materials and increasing consumer demand for environmentally friendly products
In our previous work [12], we demonstrated the feasibility of using bacterial cellulose (BC), as obtained by static culture, impregnated with two commercial hydrophobic polymers, resulting in a composite with potential textile or leather-like material
Emulsions Stability and Diffusion into BC. Both the Hydrophilic–Lipophilic Balance (HLB) value of the surfactant mixture (Triton-X100/Span 80/Butanol) and emulsification time had a significant effect on the stability of the O/W emulsions, as evaluated by visual observation over 10 days
Summary
The tannery industry faces several challenges associated with high environmental impact, scarcity of raw materials and increasing consumer demand for environmentally friendly products. The worldwide production of leather is approximately 20 billion square feet per year [1]. To produce 1 ton of leather, 6.7 tons of raw skin [2], 57,000 liters of water [3], and 3.35 tons of chemicals are required [4]. For bovine skin, 370 billion liters of water are consumed annually, generating 6.5 million tons of solid waste. This research intends to contribute to the reduction of the animal hide dependency by the development of composites from bacterial cellulose (BC) as structuring material and activated vegetable oils as a flexibilizing, mechanical reinforcing and hydrophobizing agent. BC is identical to vegetable cellulose but the nano-scale of its fibers offers a significantly higher surface area [5]
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