Fabrication and properties evaluation of three layered transparent nanocomposite reinforced with cellulose and chitin nanofibers

AbstractIn this study, three-layered transparent nanocomposite containing wood cellulose nanofibers (WCNF), bacterial cellulose nanofiber (BCNF) and chitin nanofibers (ChNF) individually as core layer and epoxy as top and bottom layers has been fabricated and characterized. The WCNF, BCNF and ChNF were first converted to nanofilms, followed by solvent exchanging by ethanol and acetone and then immersed into epoxy resin. The impregnated nanofilms with epoxy was cold pressed followed by drying in an oven to get three layered nanocomposites. FE-SEM, transparency and tensile test showed that epoxy could penetrate into the core layer (nanofilms) positively affected the transparency and mechanical properties. The crystallinity index of nanocomposite was lower than that of pure nanofilms. ATR-FTIR confirmed the peaks of nanocomposites were similar to those of epoxy. The mechanical and transparency properties of nanocomposite were higher than those of pure nanofilms. Nanocomposite containing BCNF and ChNF showed highest tensile strength and transparency, respectively.