Comparative study on the properties of nanopapers prepared from cellulose and chitin nanofibers

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Department of Wood Engineering and Technology, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 4913815739 Gorgan, Iran

2 null

Abstract

Abstract
Background and objective: During last two decades, nano-biomaterials like cellulose nanofiber (CNF) and chitin nanofiber (ChNF) have attracted the attention of many researchers to make different products. The most important properties of these nanomaterials are bio-compatibility, bio-degradability, renewability, owning cheap available raw materials, owning high mechanical properties and safety. Based on these promising properties, a wide variety of applications have been created for these nanomaterials. One of these products is transparent and tough nanopaper in which hydrogen bounds are created among nanofibers with no adhesive or additives. In recent years, many researchers have been focused on the production, optimization of properties and utilization of CNF and ChNF nanopapers in different applications. Based on the technical and functional properties of CNF and ChNF and nanopapers, as well as the necessity of doing more investigation and evaluation on these nano-materials and nano-products for the future researches and applications, it was aimed to compare the properties of CNF and ChNF nanopapers in this study.
Materials and methods: To do this research, CNF and ChNF gels were prepared from Nano Novin Polymer Co. (Iran). To make nanopapers, the gels were first converted to mat using vacuum filtration process and then the mats dried in a vacuum oven at 70 °C for 24h. The fabricated CNF and ChNF nanopapers were characterized using atomic force microscope (AFM), qualitative transparency, X-ray diffraction (XRD), tensile, and air permeability tests.
Results: The results showed that the average diameter of CNF and ChNF was 35 and 26 nm, respectively. The nanopapers prepared from both CNF and ChNF showed complete barrier properties against air. The XRD curves of CNF and ChNF nanopapers were completely different. The crystallinity index of CNF and ChNF nanopapers obtained were 68% and 90%, respectively. The tensile strength, Young’s modulus and strain of ChNF nanopaper were higher than those of CNF nanopaper.
Conclusions: CNF and ChNF are both nanomaterials simultaneously owning the most important technical, economic and environmental properties. Also, the nanopapers made from these nanofibers showed promising physical and mechanical properties including complete barrier properties to air, high transparency, and mechanical properties; hence, based on these promising properties and ongoing intensive researches on this product, CNF and ChNF expects to be used in a wide varieties of applications including medicine, papermaking, electronic, magnetic, food packaging, etc. Keywords: Cellulose nanofiber, Chitin nanofiber, Nanocellulose nanopaper, Physical properties, Mechanical properties

Keywords: Cellulose nanofiber, Chitin nanofiber, Nanocellulose nanopaper, Physical properties, Mechanical properties

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

1. Al Sagheer, F.A., Al-Sughayer, M.A., Muslim, S., and Elsabee, M.Z. 2009. Extraction and characterization of chitin and chitosan from marine sources in Arabian Gulf. Carbohydrate Polymers, 77(2): 410-419.
2. Hadilam, M.M., Afra, A., Ghasemian, A., and Yousefi, H. 2014. Preparation and evaluation of nanoclayer cellulose properties prepared by milling method. Forest and Wood Science and Technology Researches, 20(2): 139-149.
3. Irimia-Vladu, M. 2014. “Green” electronics: biodegradable and biocompatible materials and devices for
sustainable future. Chemical Society Reviews, 43(2): 588-610.
4. Iwamoto, S., Nakagaito, A.N., and Yano, H. 2007. Nano-fibrillation of pulp fibers for the processing of transparent nanocomposites. Applied Physics A, 89(2): 461-466.
5. Izze, S., Yousefi, H., Meshkor M., Rasouli, D. 2018. Production and Applications of Transparent Nanofilms with Nanocellulose and Nanochitin. National Conference on Technology Development. Islamic Azad University, Ali Abad Katoul Branch. 8.
6. Izze, S., Yousefi, H., Meshkor M., and Rasouli, D. 2018. Production and
examination of properties of nanofilms prepared from chitin nanofibers. National Conference on Technology Development. Islamic Azad University, Ali Abad Katoul Branch. 7.
7. Rezaei, Z., and Yousefi, H. 2014. Applications of nano-chitin and nano-chitosan. Nano Science and Technology Conference. Payame Noor University of Gorgan.10.
8. Nam, S., French, A.D., Condon, B.D., and Concha, M. 2016. Segal crystallinity index revisited by the simulation of X-ray diffraction patterns of cotton cellulose Iβ and cellulose II. Carbohydrate polymers, 135, 1-9.
9. Yousefi, H., Faezipour, M., Hedjazi, S., Mousavi, M.M., Azusa, Y., and Heidari, A.H. 2013. Comparative study of paper
and nanopaper properties prepared from bacterial cellulose nanofibers and fibers/ground cellulose nanofibers of canola straw. Industrial Crops and Products, 43: 732-737.
10. Zhang, K., Zong, L., Tan, Y., Ji, Q., Yun, W., Shi, R., and Xia, Y. 2016. Improve the flame retardancy of cellulose fibers by grafting zinc ion. Carbohydrate polymers, 136: 121-127.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics