Mechanical properties improvement of bacterial cellulose film by thermo-hydro-mechanical and electrochemical treatment

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose is an interesting material. Besides its biocompatibility bacterial cellulose also has a unique structure and properties. The mechanical properties of cellulose might depend on an amount of hydrogen bond in a material. Due to the water softening effect, a combination of thermal treatment and the hydro-mechanical compression was proposed to remove the water content of bacterial cellulose. The treatment was followed with electric current flow through an electrolyte medium in bacterial cellulose to improve the strength of the hydrogen bond. Mechanical properties improvement of bacterial cellulose treated with the proposed method is discussed.