Formulation of Microwave-Assisted Natural-Synthetic Polymer Composite Film and Its Physicochemical Characterization

Aman Ullah,Saima Mehmood,Tayyaba Iftikhar,Muaz Habib Khan,Mughal Qayum,Shefaat Ullah Shah,Inam Ullah Gul,Hafiz Muhammad Basit,Nauman Rahim Khan,Jahangir Khan,Vito Speranza

doi:10.1155/2021/9961710

Abstract

This study is aimed at microwave-assisted synthesis of sodium carboxymethylcellulose and Eudragit L100 composite film and its physicochemical characterization. The film was developed with varying quantities of each polymer and treated with microwave at a fixed frequency of 2450 MHz with a power of 350 Watts for 60 and 120 s. All formulations were characterized for thickness/weight uniformity, moisture adsorption, erosion and water uptake, tensile strength, and vibrational, thermal, and surface morphological analysis in comparison with untreated film samples. Results indicated that microwave treatment for 60 s significantly improved the tensile strength, reduced the water adsorption, delayed erosion, and reduced the water uptake in comparison with the untreated and 120 s treated film formulations. The vibrational analysis revealed rigidification of hydrophilic domains at OH/NH moiety and fluidization of hydrophobic domains at asymmetric and symmetric CH moieties, which is envisaged to be due to the formation of new linkages between the two polymers. These were later confirmed by thermal analysis where a significant rise in transition temperature, as well as enthalpy of the system, was recorded. The microwave treatment for 60 s is thus advocated to be the best treatment condition for developing sodium carboxymethylcellulose and Eudragit L100 composite polymeric films.

Highlights

Polymer composites were introduced to address the demerits associated with lone use of either natural and/or synthetic polymers where more than one polymer is mixed and/or treated with another organic or inorganic moiety to create a novel polymeric network with improved physicochemical attributes [1]
By passing from sorghum to kenaf, hemp, and flex, the width of band at half height decreases, which suggests that an increase in size and more perfection comes in the cellulose crystallites, so we can say that there would be an increase rigidification in the structure, while no significant difference in the wave number of C=O moiety of the Eudragit L100 (1715-1705 cm-1, p > 0:05) was observed which depicts this moiety remained unaffected by the interactive capability of Na-CMC
This paper focused on the development of natural and synthetic polymer composite films through microwave treatment

Summary

Introduction

Polymer composites were introduced to address the demerits associated with lone use of either natural and/or synthetic polymers where more than one polymer is mixed and/or treated with another organic or inorganic moiety to create a novel polymeric network with improved physicochemical attributes [1]. Due to its polyelectrolyte nature, it is used as an excellent superabsorbent and acts as a viscosity modifier, thickener, and emulsifier [17] It exhibits good thermal gelation and forms excellent films due to its polymeric structure and high molecular weight [21, 22]. It finds widespread applications in drug delivery, textile printing, paper industry, nanocomposite materials, detergents and food industry, and wound healing applications [23, 24]. Na-CMC has numerous surface OH groups readily available to form H-bonds with other moieties for the purpose to improve its physicochemical properties [25, 26]

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