title: Mechanical and barrier properties of nanocrystalline cellulose reinforced chitosan based nanocomposite films.
abstract: Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) reinforced chitosan-based biodegradable films were prepared by solution casting. The NCC content in the films was varied from 1 to 10% (dry wt. basis). It was found that the tensile strength (TS) of the nanocomposite films with 5% (w/w) NCC content was optimum with an improvement of 26% compared to the control chitosan films. Incorporation of NCC also significantly improved barrier properties. Water vapor permeability (WVP) of the chitosan/NCC films was decreased by 27% for the optimum 5% (w/w) NCC content. Swelling studies revealed a decrease in water uptake of the NCC-reinforced chitosan films. Analyses of thermal properties showed no significant effect of NCC whereas X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the appearance of crystalline peaks in the nanocomposite films. Surface morphology of the films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and it was found that NCC was dispersed homogenously into chitosan matrix.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratories in Sciences Applied to Food, Canadian Irradiation Centre (CIC), INRS-Institute Armand-Frappier, University of Quebec, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Quebec H7V 1B7, Canada.
authors.forename: Avik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Ruhul A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salmieri
authors.forename: Canh
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Tien
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Riedl
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chauve
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Musa R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacroix
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013227:Steam; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D013227:Steam; D002482:Cellulose; D048271:Chitosan