Abstract
Underutilized agro-waste of cultivated banana pseudostem was treated by a soda pulping process and passed through a microfluidizer to prepare nanofibrillated cellulose (BA). TEM images confirmed the presence of thin fibrils and fine webs of BA with average diameter and length of 20.0±7.6 nm and 1.7±0.1 μm, respectively. Reinforcing potential of this BA nanofibers in recycled papers was investigated by adding 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 wt% BA into the recycled bagasse sheets. Tensile testing results indicated that all mechanical properties (i.e. tensile index, breaking length, Young’s modulus, and elongation) were noticeably increased all at once. SEM images revealed that the physically retained BA nanofibers in the sheet structures bridged and linked between bagasse fibers increasing inter-fiber bonding, hence, strengthening the sheets as a result. Toughness of the reinforced sheets was also found to be significantly enhanced (~128% increase with 5.0 wt% BA incorporation). The change in failure mode showing fibers stretching and slippage before breaking was observed on fractured surface of this paper sheet. This BA cellulose nanofiber demonstrated to be highly promising as reinforcement in pulp and paper industry.
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