Mechanical and Barrier Properties of Cellulosic Nano-Fibers Reinforced Bionanocomposite

Abstract

Cellulose is one of the most frequently used and generally available materials on Earth and has been utilized for ages in a variety of applications. Numerous researchers have investigated various lignocellulosic sources for the extraction of cellulose and the author has introduced a new source for the extraction of cellulose and cellulosic nanofibers: fruits or seedpods of Delonix Regia (CNF). The solvent casting process is used to create the PVA/CNF composite after the cellulose and CNF have been removed using a mechano-chemical method. SEM, tensile testing, soil burial testing and moisture absorption tests have all been used to examine the morphological, mechanical, biodegradable and moisture absorption capabilities of pure PVA and PVA/CNF composite with 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 percentages of CNF. According to SEM findings, agglomeration was seen at higher concentrations but uniform and homogenous distribution of nano-fillers was seen at lower percentages of CNF. It is profusely clear from the results of the tensile tests that the percentage elongation initially decreased and then began to increase at higher concentration, while the Young’s modulus and tensile strength initially increased at lower percentages of CNF rapidly and gradually decreased for higher concentration. Pure PVA had the least resistance to degradation in biodegradability test, while the biodegradability test showed that the inclusion of CNF decreased the composite material’s ability to degrade. With the addition of CNF, the rate of moisture absorption decreased, resulting in a PVA/CNF composite material that will last longer and perform better without material degradation.