Abstract
Soy protein isolate (SPI) provides a potential alternative biopolymer source to fossil fuels, but improving the mechanical properties and water resistance of SPI composites remains a huge challenge. Inspired by the synergistic effect of natural nacre, we developed a novel approach to fabricate high-performance SPI nanocomposite films based on 2D graphene (G) nanosheets and 1D carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) using a casting method. The introduction of web-like NFC promoted the uniform dispersion of graphene/CNTs in the biopolymer matrix, as well as a high extent of cross-linkage combination between the fillers and SPI matrix. The laminated and cross-linked structures of the different nanocomposite films were observed by field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) images. Due to the synergistic interactions of π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding between the nanofillers and SPI chains, the tensile strength of SPI/G/CNT/NFC film significantly increased by 78.9% and the water vapor permeability decreased by 31.76% in comparison to neat SPI film. In addition, the ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light barrier performance, thermal stability, and hydrophobicity of the films were significantly improved as well. This bioinspired synergistic reinforcing strategy opens a new path for constructing high-performance nanocomposites.
Highlights
Sustainable and eco-friendly biopolymers, usually prepared from renewable resources such as proteins, polysaccharides, lignin and cellulose, have received a great deal of research attention as potential alternatives to conventional petrochemical-based materials [1,2]
We demonstrated that the integration of PEI-modified cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and graphene sheets into the Soy protein isolate (SPI) matrices resulted in a significant increase of mechanical properties via strong ion pairing between positively charged CNC and anionic graphene sheets [21]
Inspired by the synergistic effect in the hierarchical structure of natural nacre, we have developed a novel approach to fabricating high-performance SPI nanocomposite films based on 2D graphene nanosheet and 1D Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and Nanofibrillated Cellulose (NFC) using a casting method
Summary
Sustainable and eco-friendly biopolymers, usually prepared from renewable resources such as proteins, polysaccharides, lignin and cellulose, have received a great deal of research attention as potential alternatives to conventional petrochemical-based materials [1,2]. Due to its superior qualities of low cost, biodegradability, non-toxicity and easy availability, SPI-based film has been considered one of the most promising and ideal candidates for commercial applications such as food packaging [4], coating materials [5], tissue engineering [6], drug delivery [7]. Pristine SPI-based films have some drawbacks such as poor mechanical properties and high sensitivity to moisture, which limit their further practical application [9]. Nanophase reinforcement is considered one of the most effective ways to improve the performance of biopolymer materials [14]. Nanostructured modification has emerged as a key research field in Polymers 2018, 10, 270; doi:10.3390/polym10030270 www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers
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