Composite Films of Nanofibrillated Cellulose with Sepiolite: Effect of Preparation Strategy

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are nanomaterials with promising properties to be used in food packaging and printed electronics, thus being logical substitutes petroleum-based polymers, specifically plastics. CNFs can combined other materials, such as clay minerals, form composites, which environmentally friendly acceptable costs without compromising the final of composite material. To produce films, two strategies used: solvent casting filtration followed by hot pressing. The first approach is simplest way but obtained films may present some limitations. In work, produced using enzymatic or TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical) oxidation pretreatments, high-pressure homogenization, only mechanical treatment (homogenization), were both available procedures. + pressing presented higher tensile strength Young’s modulus compared those casting. general, a decrease values these elongation at break, addition sepiolite, also observed. However, for CNF-based an improvement could observed 10% sepiolite content. Furthermore, time necessary was largely reduced employing procedure. Finally, water vapour barrier comparable literature net CNF films. Thus, this technique demonstrates most suitable fast improved gas properties.