Effect of interfibrillar PVA bridging on water stability and mechanical properties of TEMPO/NaClO2 oxidized cellulosic nanofibril films

Carbohydr Polym. 2015 Aug 1:126:78-82. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.03.007. Epub 2015 Mar 12.

Abstract

TEMPO/NaClO2 oxidized cellulosic nanofibrils (TCNF) were covalently bonded with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to render water stable films. Pure TCNF films and TCNF-PVA films in dry state showed similar humidity dependent behavior in the elastic region. However, in wet films PVA had a significant effect on stability and mechanical characteristics of the films. When soaked in water, pure TCNF films exhibited strong swelling behavior and poor wet strength, whereas covalently bridged TCNF-PVA composite films remained intact and could easily be handled even after 24h of soaking. Wet tensile strength of the films was considerably enhanced with only 10 wt% PVA addition. At 25% PVA concentration wet tensile strengths were decreased and films were more yielding. This behavior is attributed to the ability of PVA to reinforce and plasticize TCNF-based films. The developed approach is a simple and straightforward method to produce TCNF films that are stable in wet conditions.

Keywords: Film; Mechanical properties; Poly(vinyl alcohol); TEMPO oxidized cellulose nanofibrils; Water stable.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cellulose / chemistry*
  • Chlorides / chemistry*
  • Cyclic N-Oxides / chemistry*
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Nanofibers / ultrastructure
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Plasticizers / chemistry
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Tensile Strength
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Chlorides
  • Cyclic N-Oxides
  • Plasticizers
  • Water
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol
  • Cellulose
  • TEMPO
  • chlorite