(13d) Alginate - Cellulose Nanocrystals Nanocomposite Fibers

Alginate fibers have found many applications like the preparation of dressings to treat exuding wounds, drug delivery, enzyme immobilization, and other; however their use is restricted due to a dramatic decrease in their strength with increasing water content. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were added to alginate fibers with the goal of improving its mechanical properties in aqueous media. High viscosity sodium alginate was wet spun with CNCs isolated from cotton into a CaCl2 coagulating bath to prepare CNC ? alginate fibers. The mechanical properties of wet and dry fibers were measured under tensile conditions as a function of nanoparticle loading. Fiber crystallinity, alignment, thermal properties, and water retention were determined via XRD, birefringence, DSC, TGA, and gravimetric methods. A good dispersion of nanocrystals in the matrix is expected due to similarities in cellulose and alginate chemical structure. CNCs have potential to become a biocompatible, renewable and cost effective solution to reinforce alginate fibers in aqueous media. Results from our investigation will be presented.