Abstract
Composites films with higher mechanical properties from naturally occurring degradable materials are of present demand to achieve goals of sustainable development. Interaction within composite constituents during drying controls mechanical properties. Here, bio-nanocomposites films were first prepared from cellulose nanocrystals synthesized from jute fibres and extracted potato starch with the same chemical formulations. The filler, nanocrystals consist of nanorod-like cellulose particles obtained as an aqueous suspension by sulfuric acid (H2SO4) hydrolysis of jute fibres and the matrix was prepared by plasticization of potato starch after disruption of starch granules with water and glycerin. Nanocomposite films were obtained by casting the homogeneous aqueous suspension at 95oC and followed by natural drying (atmospheric drying, 25oC) and oven drying at 40oC. The thickness of the bio-nanocomposites film about 250 μm was controlled by using a 2 mm thick structural glass frame. It is revealed that with increasing the percentage of cellulose nanocrystals in composite films, mechanical properties corresponding to tensile strength and Young’s modulus were increased significantly. The film containing the highest quantity of cellulose nanocrystals (20% w/w of starch) revealed better properties in case of natural drying (tensile strength 84.2 MPa, Young’s modulus 0.563 GPa, elongation at break 27%) than the film properties (tensile strength 35.2 MPa, Young’s modulus 0.423 GPa, elongation at break 20%) of oven drying.
Highlights
Development and engineering of bio-based products and innovative processing technologies which offer sustainability and mitigation of the dependence on fossil fuel are essential for sustainable civilization
Cellulose nanocrystals with some microfibrils from jute were prepared by hydrolysis in presence of 64% H2SO4 at 60 oC
It was noteworthy to mention that the purification was not complete after bleaching at room temperature (25 oC) and the product still contained little brown color
Summary
Development and engineering of bio-based products and innovative processing technologies which offer sustainability and mitigation of the dependence on fossil fuel are essential for sustainable civilization. UniversePGIwww.universepg.com urization by the introduction of mechanical and heat energy or by incorporation of a plasticizing agent (e.g., water, amide, and/or polyols), starch can be processed into thermoplastic materials. The use of starch-based materials is greatly hindered by its intractable nature, brittleness, water-sensitivity, and poor mechanical. It has been found that using reinforcing materials in a starch matrix is an effective method to obtain high-performance starch-based biocomposites (Cao et al, 2008). Various types of cellulose fillers such as jute fibers, eucalyptus pulp fibers, flax fiber, tunicin, and ramie fibers, have been prepared and used as reinforcing agents in biocomposites (Chakraborty et al, 2008; John et al, 2007). Natural cellulosic nanocrystals with high aspect ratio have been gaining considerable interest because of their unique and attractive features in terms of functionality, cost effectiveness, and light weight
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