Physical, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Nanocrystalline Cellulose Bioplastic Film

The bioplastic film based on Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) for food packaging has been widely developed because of its biodegradable properties and safety. Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is used as filler to improve mechanical strength. This study investigated how adding NCC into PVA films affects the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties. Combine acid hydrolysis ۴۶ wt.% and ultrasonication process success to isolate commercial microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) became nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). It has been characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). NCC with needle shape form with an aspect ratio (L/D) of ۱۲.۴ has been high crystallinity index (۷۶.۴%). Addition of ۶ wt.% NCC into PVA film improves the tensile strength and elongation by ۳۵.۳۰ MPa and ۶۵.۵۴%, respectively. The bioplastic film gives a barrier on the UV rays by ۷۵% and still has good transparency. The thermal stability improves, indicated by the glass transition temperature (Tg) increase from ۱۰۹ to ۱۱۴°C and maximum temperature (Tmax) from ۲۷۵ to ۳۰۰ °C.

Keywords:

Bioplastic film , Nanocrystalline cellulose , polyvinyl alcohol