Nanofibrillated cellulose reinforced acetylated arabinoxylan films

• Published in: Composites science and technology Vol. 98; pp. 72 - 78
• Main Authors: Stepan, Agnes M., Ansari, Farhan, Berglund, Lars, Gatenholm, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: A. Flexible composites; A. Nanocomposites; Applied sciences; Arabinoxylans; B. Thermomechanical properties; B. Transport properties; Biobased composite; Cellulose; Composites; Dispersions; Exact sciences and technology; Flexible composites; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Nanocomposites; Nanostructure; Plasticizers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Relative humidity; Technology of polymers; Tensile tests; Thermomechanical properties; Transport properties; Ultimate tensile strength; A. Flexible composites; A. Nanocomposites; B. Thermomechanical properties; Biobased composite; B. Transport properties; Transport properties; Cellulose; Plant fiber; Mechanical properties; Nanofiber; Dispersion reinforced material; Tensile property; Experimental study; Composite material; Water permeability; Young modulus; Natural fiber; Morphology; Humidity resistance; Concentration effect; Oside polymer; Nanocomposite; Chemical properties; Arabinoxylan
• ISSN: 0266-3538; 1879-1050; 1879-1050
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2014.04.010

In this study, acetylated rye arabinoxylan (AcAX) films were reinforced with nanofibrillated cellulose from spruce (NFC) ranging from 1 to 10wt% of the total composition. Free-standing composite films were casted without the use of any plasticizers. The homogeneous dispersion of NFC in the films was confirmed with scanning electron microscopy. The ultimate strength and the Young’s modulus determined by tensile tests increased from 65MPa and 2190MPa for neat AcAX films to 93MPa and 3360MPa for the 10% composite films, respectively. The elongation to break of the 10% NFC composite film was a remarkable 10.5%. The moisture absorbed was still less than 8wt% for the films with 10% NFC content at 97% relative humidity at room temperature, which is low for hemicellulose-based films. The addition of NFC decreased the water permeability of the films at low NFC contents, which was studied in diffusion cells using radioactive labeled water. Thus NFC can be used in an unmodified form as reinforcement in AcAX films to prepare films or coatings that are more water and humidity resistant than neat hemicellulose-based films.