Effect of Gum arabic on distribution behavior of nanocellulose fillers in starch film

Abstract

Uniform distribution of nanofillers in polymer matrix is posing a major challenge in exploiting the full potential of nanomaterials. Various fillers are being evaluated to improve the performance of biopolymer films like starch. In this work, nanocellulose is used as fillers to increase the performance characteristics of starch film. Due to high surface energy and hydrophilic nature of nanocellulose, they tend to aggregate during the film forming process. To circumvent this problem, Gum arabic (GA) was added to distribute the nanocellulose uniformly. GA helps in reduction of surface energy (as analyzed by contact angle) and thus facilitates the uniform distribution of nanocellulose (as demonstrated through polarized light microscopy). Nanocellulose as filler improved the tensile strength of starch film by 2.5 times while that of uniformly distributed nanocellulose by 3.5 times. Moreover, while nanocellulose as such could reduce the water vapor permeability of starch film by 1.4 times, uniformly distributed nanocellulose reduced it by 2 times proving the importance of GA. Starch film filled with nanocellulose and GA will be a 100% biopolymer-based system having potential demand in eco-friendly applications.

Impact of hybrid flame retardant on the flammability and thermomechanical properties of wood sawdust polymer composite panel

“…GAP has excellent natural adhesive properties, and it is non‐toxic in nature. It has found great interest as particleboard binders and to reduce surface energy as well as facilitates uniform distribution of nanocellulose . In addition, the high cellulose and lignin content present in wood could have contributed to the increase, credited to Bledzki and Gassan .…”

“…It has found great interest as particleboard binders 35 and to reduce surface energy as well as facilitates uniform distribution of nanocellulose. 36 In addition, the high cellulose and lignin content present in wood could have contributed to the increase, credited to Bledzki and Gassan. 37 Contrarily, the poor response to TM of the WSPC panel could be attributed to the increase in FR, which lowered the flowability of the PR and thus disabled the FR dispersion.…”

Preparation of nano cellulose fibers and its application in kappa-carrageenan based film

“…However, it was still lesser than that of control WVTR value of KCRG. This phenomenon can be explained by the addition of NFC which enables a tortuous path for the water molecules to pass through [36]. Svagan et al [14] explained cellulose nanofiber network is reducing the swelling and thereby the WVTR.…”

Microscopic Techniques for the Analysis of Micro and Nanostructures of Biopolymers and Their Derivatives

“…Fiber diameter Poly(ε-caprolactone)/chitosan blend [65] Size and ahape Starch granules [66,67] Filler dispersion starch/ Gum Arabic/nanocellulose [68] Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)…”