In Situ Self-Assembled Nanocomposites from Bacterial Cellulose Reinforced with Eletrospun Poly(lactic acid)/Lipids Nanofibers.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Chunhui Xiang; Acevedo, Nuria C.
- Source
- Polymers (20734360). May2017, Vol. 9 Issue 5, p179. 13p. 1 Color Photograph, 2 Charts, 7 Graphs.
- Subject
- *POLYLACTIC acid
*STIFFNESS (Mechanics)
*NANOFIBERS
*INTERFACIAL bonding
*CELLULOSE
- Language
- ISSN
- 2073-4360
The goal of this study is to explore a new strategy to improve the mechanical and hydrophobic properties of bacterial cellulose (BC) mats. The present work is the first to report the preparation of in situ self-assembled BC nanocomposites using electrospun hydrophobic poly(lactic acid) (PLA) or PLA/lipids (PLA/Lip) nanofiber mats as foundation for BC nanofiber growth. Adding electrospun PLA mats to the BC culture media led to a two-fold increase in toughness with a 52% increase in elongation of the nanocomposites with regard to BC. The incorporation of electrospun PLA and PLA/Lip nanofiber mats lowered the moisture regain and water vapor transmission of BC nanocomposites relative to pure BC mats. The interfacial bonding between the individual components of a nanocomposite is a key factor for the improvement of composite strength, stiffness and barrier properties; thus additional strategies to improve interaction between hydrophilic BC and hydrophobic PLA fibers need to be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]