Morphology and Properties of Neutralized Chitosan-Cellulose Nanocrystals Biocomposite Films

CORSELLO, F.A.; BOLLA, P.A.; AMBINDER, P.S; SERRADELL, M. DE LOS A.; PERUZZO, P.J.

CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2017

0144-8617

Chitosan/cellulose nanocrystals (CH-CN) films were obtained by casting of dispersions, and treated with NaOH for neutralization proposes. The composition of films was varied from 1?10 wt.% of CN. Changes in the morphology of the systems were correlated with the different properties studied. FTIR revealed the presence of a weak interaction between the polymer matrix and nanofiller, confirmed by a slightly increase in thermal stability. SEM images suggested that incorporating CN amounts higher than 3 wt.% generates phase-segregated systems, and SAXS showed that CH avoid the typical organization of CN at concentrations below 5 wt.%. Improved performance against water was obtained in composite materials comparing to the pure polymer matrix, as well as CH and CH-CN films did not show antibacterial activity demonstrating that remnant acetic acid, when no neutralization step is done, plays an important role in this property