Synthesis and Physicochemical Properties of Poly(vinyl) Alcohol Nanocomposites Reinforced with Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Tea (Camellia sinensis) Waste.

Fauzi Handoko,Yusril Yusuf

doi:10.3390/ma14237154

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to utilize cellulose from tea waste as nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), which is used as a filler in poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) nanocomposites. To obtain the NCC, a chemical process was conducted in the form of alkali treatment, followed by bleaching and hydrolysis. Nanocomposites were formed by mixing PVA with various NCC suspensions. With chemical treatment, lignin and hemicellulose can be removed from the tea waste to obtain NCC. This can be seen in the functional groups of cellulose and the increase in crystallinity. The NCC had a mean diameter of 6.99 ± 0.50 nm. Furthermore, the addition of NCC to the PVA nanocomposite influenced the properties of the nanocomposites. This can be seen in the general increase in opacity value, thermal and mechanical properties, and crystallinity, as well as the decrease in the value of the swelling ratio after adding NCC. This study has revealed that NCC from tea waste can be used to improve the physicochemical properties of PVA film.

Highlights

Polymer nanocomposite films comprise nanofillers dispersed in a polymer matrix.Incorporating some nano-sized fillers can improve the composite properties required for many industrial and technological applications
This study found that elongation at the break of nanocomposite films increased with the increasing addition of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) in PNC2 (176.2%) and started to decrease in PNC4 (84.7%)
NCC was successfully made from tea waste, and poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite was added, with NCC as a filler

Summary

Introduction

Polymer nanocomposite films comprise nanofillers dispersed in a polymer matrix.Incorporating some nano-sized fillers can improve the composite properties required for many industrial and technological applications. Polymer nanocomposite films with inorganic fillers can improve stiffness, strength, hardness, and high temperature creep resistance compared to unfilled polymers [1,2,3]. These nanocomposite films have recently become an issue of great concern from an economic, environmental, and performance point of view. This can be overcome by replacing inorganic fillers with natural materials [4,5,6]. Natural fibers generally come from plants and animals. The main component of plant fiber is cellulose, which is a naturally occurring hydrophilic polymer

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