Physical and Mechanical Characterization of Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanocomposite Made from Cellulose Nanofibers
Ferriawan Yudhanto, Jamasri*, Heru S B Rochardjo
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl. Grafika No.2 Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
*jamasri[at]ugm.ac.id
Abstract
A method using a combination of acid hydrolysis and ultrasonic homogenize were developed to obtain the CNF (cellulose nanofibers) from agave cantala fibers. Acid hydrolysis method was success produces the CNF with a diameter around of 45-50 nm, which investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) nanocomposites were prepared by solution casting technique. Physical properties such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) shows highly crystalline of cellulose fibers. It caused by the removal of impurities which covered the fibers such as hemicellulose and lignin. The homogenize mixing method with magnetic stirrer 350 RPM, at temperature of 50oC, for 30 minutes followed by ultrasonic homogenizer has been causing CNF well distributed in the PVA matrix. The effect addition of CNF 5 wt % colloidal in PVA as reinforcement increases the mechanical properties of CNF/PVA nanocomposite. Tensile stress and elongation at break of CNF/PVA nanocomposite were increased by 70% and 137%.
Keywords: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cellulose nanofibers (CNF), nanocomposite film
Topic: Materials Science