Preparation and characterization study on maleic acid cross‐linked poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitin/nanocellulose composites

Abstract

Abstract In the quest on improving composite formulations for environmental sustainability, maleic acid (MA) cross‐linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)‐α‐chitin composites reinforced by oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers (OPEFB)‐derived nanocellulose crystals (NCC) had been successfully prepared. Based on the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis, it was proven that molecular interactions of the cross‐linker to the polymeric networks was through conjugated ester linkage. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the influence of MA was minimal toward crystallization in the PVA/chitin/NCC composite. Maximum tensile strength, elongation at break and Young's modulus of the respective PVA/chitin/NCC composites were achieved at different content of MA, dependent on the PVA/chitin mass ratio. Among all compositions, a maximum Young's modulus was achieved at 30 wt% MA loading in PVA/chitin‐30/NCC, amounting to 2,413.81 ± 167.36 MPa. Moreover, the mechanical properties and selected physicochemical properties (swelling, gel content, and contact angle) of the PVA/chitin/NCC composites could be tailored by varying the chitin content (10–30 wt%) and MA content (10–50 wt% based on total mass of composite). In brief, this chemically cross‐linked PVA‐based biocomposites formulated with sustainable resources exhibited tunable physicochemical and mechanical properties.