resumo
Novel bionanocomposite films with improved thermal and mechanical properties, were prepared by casting water-based suspensions of pullulan and nanofibrillated cellulose. The effect of the addition of glycerol, as a plasticizer, on the properties of the materials was also evaluated. The ensuing materials were characterized in terms of morphology, thermal stability, crystalline structure and mechanical properties. All bionanocomposites were very homogeneous, translucent and showed considerable improvements in thermal stability (increments of up to 20 degrees C in the degradation temperature) and mechanical properties (increments of up to 5500% and 8000% in the Young's modulus and tensile strength, respectively, for films plasticized with glycerol) when compared to the unfilled pullulan films. Additionally, these novel bionanocomposite could be labeled as sustainable materials since they were prepared entirely from renewable resources and through a green approach. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
palavras-chave
NANOCOMPOSITES; TRANSPARENT; CHITOSAN; BIOPOLYMER; BARRIER; STARCH
categoria
Materials Science
autores
Trovatti, E; Fernandes, SCM; Rubatat, L; Perez, DD; Freire, CSR; Silvestre, AJD; Neto, CP
nossos autores
Armando Jorge Domingues Silvestre
Professor Catedrático
Carlos Pascoal Neto
Diretor do Raiz
Carmen Sofia da Rocha Freire Barros
Investigador CoordenadorProjectos
RMNE-UA-National Network of Electron Microscopy (REDE/1509/RME/2005 )
agradecimentos
The authors thank FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia) for Eliane Trovatti Postdoctoral research Grant (SFRH/BPD/63250/2009) and Susana Fernandes Postdoctoral research Grant (SFRH/BPD/70119/2010) The authors also thank FCT for funding within the scope of the