Cellulose Nanocrystal Reinforced Chitosan Based UV Barrier Composite Films for Sustainable Packaging

Abstract

In this study, green composite films based on cellulose nanocrystal/chitosan (CNC/CS) were fabricated by solution casting. FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TEM characterizations were conducted to determine the structure and morphology of the prepared films. The addition of only 4 wt.% CNC in the CS film improved the tensile strength and Young’s modulus by up to 39% and 78%, respectively. Depending on CNC content, the moisture absorption decreased by 34.1–24.2% and the water solubility decreased by 35.7–26.5% for the composite films compared with neat CS film. The water vapor permeation decreased from 3.83 × 10−11 to 2.41 × 10−11 gm−1 s−1Pa−1 in the CS-based films loaded with (0–8 wt.%) CNC. The water and UV barrier properties of the composite films showed better performance than those of neat CS film. Results suggested that CNC/CS nanocomposite films can be used as a sustainable packaging material in the food industry.

Improvement of the strength of poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels by the incorporation of functionally modified nanocrystalline Cellulose

“…4(a)). 62,63 The diameter of the as-prepared NCC was measured by Image J software and demonstrated a wide range of distribution ( Fig. 4(b)).…”

Modified cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) loaded in gellan gum matrix enhance the preservation of Agaricus bisporus mushrooms

“…In order to improve even more the performance of these materials, such as coatings, researchers have found on nanomaterials an additive improvement in the mechanical and barrier properties compared to the individual performance that coatings offer to the product. Thus, in literature it has been reported the additional strength provided in gels when nanoparticles such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are introduced in protein matrix (Xiao et al, 2020), the stabilizing role that the starch nanoparticles imparted to oil-in-water emulsions (Qian, Lu, Xie, & Wu, 2020), the enhanced UV barrier capacity added when CNCs are added into a chitosan packaging (Yadav, Behera, Chang, & Chiu, 2020). Similar to the latter properties, there are a large number of examples proving the beneficial effect of nanoparticles in polysaccharides.…”

Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystals on the Coating of Chitosan Nanocomposite Film Using Plasma-Mediated Deposition of Amorphous Hydrogenated Carbon (a–C:H) Layers

“…Biopolymers are considered potential substitutes for conventional plastic materials because of their main advantages, including non-toxicity, biodegradability, wide availability, and biocompatibility; however, some of their properties must be improved to position them as materials that can compete with petroleum-based materials [1,2]. One of these biopolymers is chitosan (CS).…”

“…CS is a natural cationic linear biopolymer and deacetylated derivative of chitin composed of β-(1,4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose and β-(1,4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose units [3]. It is one of the most important natural polymers because of its non-toxicity, antimicrobial activity, and excellent film-forming properties; without forgetting the disadvantages, it has a wide range of applications such as food, agriculture, biomedicine, pharmacy, packaging industries, materials science and wastewater treatment [1]. Nevertheless to expand the fields of application of CS, the unfortunate mechanical and surface properties of CS must be enhanced by combining efficient nano-reinforcement and surface treatment technologies [2,3].…”

“…The incorporation of nano-reinforcing agents into biopolymers must be motivated by the excellent physico-chemical nano fillers properties and their nanoscale dispersion within the biopolymer matrix [4]. In this context, different biopolymers were used as polymer matrix to build bio-nanocomposite materials with high mechanical, optical, thermal, and barrier properties using cellulose nanocrystals (CN) as nano-reinforcing fillers [1,3,4]. Moreover, the surface properties such as hardness and abrasion resistance could be improved by the deposition of protective coatings, such as amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) layers [5,6].…”