Characterization and properties of corn cob regenerated cellulose biocomposite films using ionic liquid

Abstract

The regenerated cellulose (RC) biocomposite films from corn cob (CC) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were prepared using ionic liquid, N, NDimethylacetamide (DMAc) and Lithium Chloride (LiCl) were used as solvent system to dissolve the regenerated cellulose at room temperature. In this study, the biocomposite film contain the microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and CC were varied from 1, 2, 3, 4 wt% and the MCC were fixed at 3 wt%. The effect of CC content and chemical modification using 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) on tensile properties, X-Ray diffraction, morphology, and FTIR of RC biocomposite films were investigated. The result found that at 2 wt% of CC content showed the highest tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and crystallinity index (CrI) of RC biocomposite films. The morphology study of RC biocomposite films indicated the better dispersion of RC into matrix at 2 wt% of CC content. The chemical modification of CC using EHA showed the improvement the properties of treated RC biocomposite films. The treated RC biocomposite films with EHA have higher tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and CrI compared to untreated RC biocomposite films. The improvement of interfacial interaction and dispersion of treated RC biocomposite films with EHA was proven by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The FTIR spectra showed the changes of functional group of treated CC with EHA.