Synthesis And Characterization Of Cellulose Nanocrystals/PVA Based Bionanocomposite

¹Department of Polymer & Process Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Saharanpur Campus, Saharanpur 247001, U.P., India

²Department of Paper Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Saharanpur Campus, Saharanpur 247001, U.P., India

³Centre for Polymer Science & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India

Adv. Mater. Lett., 2013, Current Issue, 4 (8), pp 626-631

DOI: 10.5185/amlett.2012.12482

Publication Date (Web): Jul 13, 2013

Copyright © IAAM-VBRI Press

E-mail: yuvrajnegi@gmail.com

Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse based cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were used to fabricate biodegradable porous foam bionanocomposites for application in biomedical applications by thermally- induced phase separation (TIPS) (freeze drying) technique. Aqueous suspension of cellulose nanocrystals and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution in water were mixed to prepare (20/80) (v/v) composition of these polymers. For the comparative study 3D porous PVA foam was also prepared. Samples were characterized by FE-SEM, FTIR, X-ray diffraction analysis, porosity and pore size by ImageJ software. FE-SEM showed the surface morphology of pores distribution of the foam samples. The porosity of 3D porous PVA foam and 3D porous CNCs/PVA bionanocomposite was calculated as 90.8% and 89.0% respectively. The functional groups and crystallinity of the samples were determined by FTIR and X-ray diffraction spectra, respectively. The diameter of CNCs was in the range from 29 nm to 65 nm and the average diameter was calculated as 43± 3 nm by image analysis using ImageJ software. Thus produced porous composite in the present study might find potential applications to be used in biomedical applications.

Keywords

Sugarcane bagasse, cellulose nanocrystals, PVA, bionanocomposite, freeze drying.