Abstract
From the perspective of sustainable development and practical applications, there has been a great need for the design of multifunctional transparent cellulose-based composite films. We herein propose a novel concept of improving the mechanical, fire-resistant and ultraviolet (UV)-blue light shielding properties of cellulose-based composite bioplastic films though in situ embedding nano-metal organic framework (MIL-125(Ti)-NH2) into regenerated cellulose gel. Regenerated cellulose hydrogel (CH) with a porous structure acts as a nanoreactor and stabilizer to facilitate the growth and anchorage of MIL-125(Ti)-NH2 nanoparticles (MNPs). Subsequently, hot-pressing induces the formation of transparent MIL-125(Ti)-NH2@cellulose bioplastics (MNP@CBPs). As expected, the MNP@CBPs exhibit exceptional UV-blue light shielding capability, while retaining satisfactory optical transmittance. Meanwhile, with the incorporation of MNPs, the mechanical strength of MNP@CBPs is increased by 6.5~25.9%. In addition, MNPs enhance the flame retardant effect of the MNP@CBPs. The limited oxygen index (LOI) of the MNP@CBPs increased from 21.95 to 27.01%. The hot-pressing process improves the resistance of the MNP@CBPs to the penetration of water/non-aqueous liquids. This simple strategy would direct sustainable multifunctional MNP@CBPs toward diversified applications: food containers or packaging materials that can reduce or eliminate food spoilage, screen protectors for blocking harmful light, and promising candidates for protective plastic products, among others.
Highlights
Growing environmental problems have dramatically highlighted the urgent need for fabricating sustainable polymers and polymer composites [1]
The synthesis process involves the preparation of a homogeneous cellulose/LiOH/urea aqueous solution according to preliminary work [28], followed by physical gelation with anhydrous ethanol and washed with water to form a cellulose hydrogel
MIL-125(Ti)-NH2 nanoparticles (MNPs) are in situ loaded into the regenerated cellulose gel to obtain MNP@cellulose hydrogel (CH)
Summary
Growing environmental problems (e.g., microplastics) have dramatically highlighted the urgent need for fabricating sustainable polymers and polymer composites [1]. The general methods to obtain a UV-blue light shielding function is mainly by incorporating inorganic and/or organic UV-blue light absorbers into the cellulose matrix [17] Employment of these absorbers is accompanied by some serious problems represented in difficulties relating to the preparation process, which includes many steps/high chemical consumption, and using hazardous chemicals. Significant progress has been made in this field, it remains a challenge to simultaneously obtain multifunctional cellulose films with flame retardant, high mechanical strength, and UVblue light shielding properties for practical applications. To the best of our knowledge, the incorporation of nano-MOFs into a cellulose film to improve its flame retardant, mechanical strength and UV-blue light blocking properties, and maintain its nature properties such as flexibility and transparency has not been thoroughly studied. Potential applications of MNP@CBPs would involve packaging materials for reducing food spoilage, screen protectors for eliminating harmful light, and promising candidates for next-generation sustainable and protective plastic products, among others
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