Physical, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of Sisal Cellulose Biocomposite Films

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to prepare self-reinforcement biocomposites films from sisal cellulose by solvent casting using NaOH complex solution and to investigate the effect of reinforcement content (i.e., 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt %) in various forms, i.e., sisal microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), commercial MCC, and short sisal fiber, respectively. The sisal MCC was extracted from sisal fiber by means of delignification, bleaching, and acid hydrolysis, respectively. The obtained MCC powder observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) appeared as short fiber shape with smooth surface having diameter of approximately 10 μm, whereas its length was varied between 67-150 μm. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the composite films reinforced with 15 wt % of sisal MCC reached up to 5.16 MPa and 375.25 MPa, respectively. The degradation temperature investigated by thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and water absorption values were significantly improved with increasing of reinforcement loading.