Inorganic-organic bio-nanocomposite films based on Laponite and Cellulose Nanofibers (CNF)

Abstract

Nowadays there is a demand for ecologically efficient sustainable materials. The combination of cellulose and clay can provide materials with improved mechanical, thermal, and optical properties, besides better water and gas barrier, and flame resistance than pristine polymers. In the present work, composites were produced using cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and Laponite. The presence of clay modified the properties of the composite films compared to the pristine cellulose nanofibers film, such as lower CNF aggregation, better thermal stability (45 °C for CNF/Lap 3.5:1 by mass) and higher water vapor permeability (157% for CNF/Lap 1:1). In addition, XRD data suggested isolation of different types of CNF/Laponite composites when the mass ratio is modified, pointing out applications for these materials as for instance scaffold in tissue engineering, in regenerative medicine or as drug delivery systems.