Biocomposite Films Based on Phosphorylated Wheat Starch and Cellulose Nanocrystals from Rice, Oat, and Eucalyptus Husks

Abstract

AbstractThere is a worldwide demand for environment‐friendly, biodegradable materials. The objective of this study is to develop biocomposite films using native or phosphorylated wheat starch reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from three different sources, rice, oat, and eucalyptus husks. The films are evaluated by their morphology, thermal properties, relative crystallinity (RC), water vapor permeability (WVP), and mechanical properties. The high RC of the CNCs increases the RC of biocomposite films. The films produced using native and phosphorylated starches present higher WVP than those incorporated within CNCs. The films without CNCs also present low solubility, remain intact after 24 h of immersion in water under agitation, and resist water absorption. The CNCs incorporation increases the tensile strength of the films. Biocomposite films produced using native starch and oat CNCs yield the highest tensile strength (5.07 ± 0.33 MPa), showing a remarkable increase of 91.3% when compared to the film obtained using native starch (2.65 ± 0.09 MPa). The biocomposite films produced in this study show satisfactory mechanical properties, such as high resistance and flexibility, thereby presenting great potential for application in food industry.