Status : Verified
| Personal Name | Lao, Tiffany Louise B. |
|---|---|
| Resource Title | Reinforcing Chitin-Cellulose Polymer Film with Layered Nano-Silicates for Food Packaging Application |
| Date Issued | 27 June 2025 |
| Abstract | The escalating global plastic waste crisis necessitates sustainable packaging alternatives, with biobased and biodegradable nanocomposites presenting a promising solution. This study investigated strategies to mitigate clay agglomeration in montmorillonite (MMT)-reinforced chitin-cellulose nanocomposite (NC) films, a critical factor limiting their application in food packaging due to compromised mechanical properties. The research systematically explored the impact of varying MMT clay loadings (0-7 wt%) and dispersion methods (sonication, homogenization, and ball milling) on the NC film's transparency, mechanical properties, and structural characteristics. Results indicated an inverse relationship between clay loading and transparency; films with ≤ 5 wt% MMT exhibited high transparency (95.33-71.17%), comparable to commercial packaging plastics. Beyond 5 wt% MMT, transparency significantly decreased. Mechanically, the NC films demonstrated elastic modulus (4.47-6.21 GPa), tensile strength (47.72-77.11 MPa), and elongation at break (4.48-7.67%) within the range of commercial plastic packaging materials, notably exceeding values from analogous studies, suggesting superior MMT dispersion. The 5 wt% MMT-reinforced film exhibited the highest elastic modulus, indicating the most effective clay loading for mechanical enhancement due to improved clay dispersion. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and rheological analyses corroborated these findings, revealing that increased clay loading initially enhanced MMT dispersion, forming intercalated and exfoliated structures up to 5 wt%. This improved dispersion facilitated polymer intercalation within MMT galleries, reducing system viscosity. Beyond 5 wt% MMT, stacked MMT layers limited polymer-clay interactions, increasing viscosity. The 5 wt% MMT-reinforced film consistently demonstrated the best dispersion state, correlating with its superior mechanical and optical properties. Permeability analysis, using the Nielsen Model with a |
| Degree Course | MS Materials Science and Engineering |
| Language | English |
| Keyword | montmorillonite; chitin-cellulose; bioplastic; nanocomposite; packaging applications |
| Material Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Preliminary Pages
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Category : I - Has patentable or registrable invention of creation.
Access Permission : Limited Access