Effect of the nano-fibrillation of bamboo pulp on the thermal, structural, mechanical and physical properties of nanocomposites based on starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend

Abstract

The current work aimed to evaluate the influence of adding bamboo cellulose nanofibrils on the performance of poly(vinyl alcohol)—PVA and modified cassava starch—FMM blend nanocomposites. Nanofibrils were produced after 5 and 30 passes through the mechanical defibrillator. Blends formed from PVA and FMM in an 80/20 ratio were used for casting preparation of the nanocomposites reinforced with 6.5% of nanofibrils. Atomic force microscopy showed the deconstruction of the fiber wall with release of the cellulose nanofibrils. A higher degree of nano-fibrillation occurred after 30 passes. The interaction between the polymers and the reinforcement after 30 passes was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electronic microscopy. The higher nano-fibrillation promoted higher homogeneity, cohesion and more compact structure, thus promoting the formation of larger well-defined crystals, which acted as nucleating agents in the matrix, as demonstrated by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffractrometry. It led to improvements of the physical, thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, conferring them great potential for applications in the plastic film industries.