Abstract
Improvement in chitosan (CS) was achieved by solution casting using cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to synthesize CS/CNW functionalized/treated MWCNTs (CS/CNWs/f-MWCNTs) and CS/CNW untreated MWCNTs (CS/CNWs/Un-MWCNTs) nanocomposite films. A comparison between effects of f-MWCNTs and Un-MWCNTs on CS/CNWs matrix have been studied with respect to change in their physical and mechanical properties. The surface morphology, chemical composition, mechanical properties and temperature decomposition of CS/CNWs/f-MWCNTs and CS/CNW/Un-MWCNTs nanocomposite films were characterized by Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (EDS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). FESEM has shown that f-MWCNTs and Un-MWCNTs were well dispersed in CS/CNWs structure. Decrease in film ductility was observed with addition of Un-MWCNTs or f-MWCNTs. Moreover, Tensile strength (TS) and Young’s modulus (YM) were increased with f-MWCNTs and seemed to be decreased in case of Un-MWCNTs. However, a decrease in elongation at break (EB) has experienced with addition of f-MWCNTs and Un-MWCNTs. Furthermore, thermal stability of chitosan composites presented a delay or prevention from degradation of CS/CNWs due to the strong interactions. Such modification in chitosan can improve its mechanical and surface properties. Hence, chitosan derived composites could achieve more applicability in packaging, medicinal and environmental applications.