NANOCOMPOSITE OF CELLULOSE NANOFIBER AND POLYVINYL ALCOHOL FOR SHRINK PACKAGING

Abstract

Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) were observed (20-100 nm) as a good reinforcement for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Cellulose nanofibers were isolated from the mature bamboo fibers by the combination of chemical method followed by the mechanical method. PVA-CNF composites were synthesized after the insitu incorporation of CNF into hydrolysed PVA. CNFs were added before the hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) into PVA and the composites films were casted by solvent casting method. CNF were incorporated in small quantity to explore the shrink packaging application of CNF-PVA composites. A 200 % increase in the tensile strain of the composite was achieved with the effect of sonication for the packaging related application. Maximum 7.5 % shrinkage was observed in the composite when exposed at 100 °C for 20 minute. Mechanical properties of the synthesized composites were analysed through universal testing machine, surface morphology of CNF as well as composites were analysed by the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Crystal structure of the cellulose nanofiber and its composites were confirmed by the x-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD).