title: Binary PVA bio-nanocomposites containing cellulose nanocrystals extracted from different natural sources: part I.
abstract: PVA bio-nanocomposites reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) extracted from commercial microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and from two types of natural fibres, Phormium tenax and Flax of the Belinka variety, were produced by solvent casting in water. Morphological, thermal, mechanical and transparency properties were studied while the respective efficiency of the extraction process of CNC from the three sources was evaluated. The effect of CNC types and content on PVA properties and water absorption capacity were also evaluated. Natural fibres offered higher levels of extraction efficiency when compared with MCC hydrolysis yield. Thermal analysis proved that CNC promotes the crystallization of the PVA matrix, while improving its plastic response. It was also clarified that all PVA/CNC systems remain transparent due to CNC dispersion at the nanoscale, while being all saturated after the first 18-24h of water absorption.
authors.affiliation: University of Perugia, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, UdR INSTM, Strada di Pentima 4, 05100 Terni, Italy. elena.fortunati@unipg.it
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fortunati
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Puglia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luzi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santulli
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Torre
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000070357:Asparagaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D019597:Flax / Q000737:chemistry*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Bio-nanocomposites; Cellulose nanocrystal; Mechanical properties; Natural fibres; Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA); Water absorption capacity