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Bio-inspired films based on chitosan, nanoclays and cellulose nanocrystals: structuring and properties improvement by using water-evaporation-induced self-assembly

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Abstract

Herein, we report a novel approach for the preparation of chitosan films with improved mechanical and barrier properties, by incorporating a mixture of nanoclays (MMT) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), via a water-evaporation-induced self-assembly process. The improvements obtained were assigned to: (1) the slow evaporation of water, leading to nacre-like structures; (2) a synergistic effect created between MMT and CNC. The best mechanical properties were obtained with a weight ratio MMT/CNC 1:2, which led to a significant improvement in tensile strength (+ 230%) and tensile modulus (+ 448%). In addition, the thermal stability of the films was also improved, while the water vapor and oxygen transmission rates were reduced. The improved barrier properties were attributed to the nacre-like layered structure formed by the sodium cloisite platelets within the chitosan matrix, which slowed down the diffusion of water and oxygen.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude towards PLACAMAT (France) for SEM analysis, towards Vincent Baylac (Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France) for OTR measurements and towards Eric Lebraud (ICMCB, University of Bordeaux, France) for XRD analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR 5629, Université de Bordeaux, 16 Avenue Pey Berland, 33607, Pessac, France

    Daniela Enescu, Christian Gardrat, Henri Cramail, Cédric Le Coz, Gilles Sèbe & Véronique Coma

  2. UMR 5629, CNRS, LCPO, 16 Avenue Pey Berland, 33600, Pessac, France

    Daniela Enescu, Christian Gardrat, Henri Cramail, Cédric Le Coz, Gilles Sèbe & Véronique Coma

  3. Department Life Sciences, Research Unit: Nano for Food, Food Processing, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Av. Mestre Jose Veiga s/n, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal

    Daniela Enescu

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  1. Daniela Enescu
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Enescu, D., Gardrat, C., Cramail, H. et al. Bio-inspired films based on chitosan, nanoclays and cellulose nanocrystals: structuring and properties improvement by using water-evaporation-induced self-assembly. Cellulose 26, 2389–2401 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-2211-7

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