The Impact of Composition and Morphology on Ionic Conductivity of Silk/Cellulose Bio-Composites Fabricated from Ionic Liquid and Varying Percentages of Coagulation Agents

Abstract

<jats:p>Blended biocomposites created from the electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between polysaccharides and structural proteins exhibit useful and unique properties. However, engineering these biopolymers into applicable forms is challenging due to the coupling of the material’s physicochemical properties to its morphology, and the undertaking that comes with controlling this. In this particular study, numerous properties of the Bombyx mori silk and microcrystalline cellulose biocomposites blended using ionic liquid and regenerated with various coagulation agents were investigated. Specifically, the relationship between the composition of polysaccharide-protein bio-electrolyte membranes and the resulting morphology and ionic conductivity is explored using numerous characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray scattering, atomic force microscopy (AFM) based nanoindentation, and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). The results revealed that when silk is the dominating component in the biocomposite, the ionic conductivity is higher, which also correlates with higher β-sheet content. However, when cellulose becomes the dominating component in the biocomposite, this relationship is not observed; instead, cellulose semicrystallinity and mechanical properties dominate the ionic conduction.</jats:p>

Biocomposites of Epoxidized Natural Rubber/Poly(lactic acid) Modified with Natural Fillers (Part I)

“…A slightly different approach to PLA properties’ modification is to use the fillers of specific characteristics. Recently, natural substances are gaining significant attention [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ] as they may contribute extensively to the creation of sustainable polymeric materials. Therefore, in the previous years, considerable interest has been given to the nature-derived additives and the effect of processing conditions on mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties of the PLA/natural filler composites [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Recent Trends in Elaboration, Processing, and Derivatization of Cellulosic Materials Using Ionic Liquids

“…The formed scaffold was applied as a potent stimulator of MSC chondrogenic maturation independent of any chondrogenic growth factor stimulation 73 . Finally, cellulose/silk blends also have potential for applications as solid electrolytes, in particular for the elaboration of polysaccharide-protein bio-electrolyte 74 .…”

A Concise Review on the Physicochemical Properties of Biopolymer Blends Prepared in Ionic Liquids

“…Cellulose was mainly exploited for the preparation of biopolymer blends in ionic liquids. Cellulose in the form of pulp [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], linter [ 9 , 10 ], microgranular [ 11 , 12 , 13 ], microcrystalline [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], and fabric [ 29 ] were usually used as raw materials for preparing biopolymer blends. On top of that, other biopolymers such as agarose [ 30 ], alginate [ 31 , 32 ], chitin [ 10 , 17 , 26 , 27 , 31 , 33 ], chitosan [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 29 , 30 , 34 , 35 , 36 ], chondroitin sulfate [ 37 ], collagen [ 24 , 32 ], keratin [ 6 , 8 ...…”