Properties of sugar palm nanocellulose fibre-reinforced biopolymer composite
The robust economic growth and rapid development as well as population growth in Malaysia have increased the amount of plastic waste generation by households, industry and trade sectors. The National Strategic Master Plan 2005 estimated that a total of 31,500 tonnes of solid wastes generated per...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2019
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| Online Access: | http://ethesis.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/13952/1/IPTPH%202019%202%20T.pdf |
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| Summary: | The robust economic growth and rapid development as well as population growth in
Malaysia have increased the amount of plastic waste generation by households, industry
and trade sectors. The National Strategic Master Plan 2005 estimated that a total of
31,500 tonnes of solid wastes generated per day by 2020. To resolve the ongoing
problems caused by non-biodegradable plastics, natural biopolymers which are also
environmental friendly plastic have been investigated as potential alternatives to replace
conventional plastic. Starch is one of the most widely available biopolymers for
packaging application as well as potential alternative to non-biodegradable plastics as it
is affordable, wide availability, biodegradable and renewable. The major challenges
for the development of starches as packaging films are the shortcomings related to
brittleness, processability, high moisture sensitivity, and poor mechanical and water
barrier properties. In order to transform native sugar palm starch (SPS) into high
performance thermoplastic starch for packaging application, sugar palm nanocrystalline
cellulose (SPNCCs) and sugar palm nanofibrillated cellulose (SPNFCs) were extracted
from sugar palm fibre (SPF) and utilized to reinforce the matrix of SPS. The SPNCCs
and SPNFCs were isolated using chemical (acid hydrolysis) and mechanical (high
pressurized homogenization) treatments, respectively. The characterization of SPNCCs
and SPNFCs was performed using TEM, FESEM, AFM, DP, TGA, DSC, DMA, FTIR,
BET, XRD, zeta potential, chemical composition, density, and moisture content. From
the implemented experiment, the dimension of the obtained SPNCCs and SPNFCs was
in nanometer range in the form of needle-like and thread-like particles shapes,
respectively, with less aggregated in suspension and high thermal stability which was
attributed to their high crystallinity and stiffness. The SPNCCs presented a high
crystallinity value of 85.9%, length (L) of around 130 ± 30 nm and the average diameter
(D) of 9 ± 1.96 nm with yield value of 29%. Meanwhile the SPNFCs presented a high
crystallinity value of 81.2%, length (L) of around several micrometers and average
diameter (D) 5.5 ± 0.99 nm with yield value of 92%. SPNCCs and SPNFCs reinforced
SPS composite film were developed using solution casting method. The effects of
different SPNCCs and SPNFCs concentrations (0 – 1.0 wt. %) on the physical,
mechanical, biodegradability, thermal and water barrier properties of nanocomposite films were evaluated. The addition of the concentration of sugar palm nanocellulose from
0.1 to 1.0 % significantly improves the water barrier and mechanical properties of the
reinforced SPS nanocomposite films compared to control SPS films. It was incredible to
note that the SPNCCs reinforced SPS nanocomposite films showed an increase in
Young’s modulus and tensile strength from 54 to 178.83 MPa and 4.80 to 11.47 MPa
with increasing nanofillers concentration from 0 to 1.0 wt %, respectively. Whereas for
SPNFCs reinforced SPS nanocomposites, the films showed an increase in Young’s
modulus and tensile strength from 54 to 121.26 MPa and 4.80 to 10.68 MPa with
increasing nanofillers concentration from 0 to 1.0 wt %, respectively. The addition of
SPNCCs and SPNFCs within SPS nanocomposites reduced the films solubility from
33.36 % (neat film) to 14.76 % and 18.60, respectively, which proved that the films have
good water stability. Moreover, sugar palm nanocellulose reinforced sugar palm starch
nanocomposite was anticipated to have good interfacial adhesion to improve the water
barrier and mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The development of such fully
biodegradable packaging films is important in the effort to address the ongoing
environmental problems and gradually substitute the widely used
conventional packaging materials. |
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