Bionanocomposite Materials Based on Chitosan Reinforced with Nanocrystalline Cellulose and Organo-Modified Montmorillonite

Abstract

Recently, the research of materials based on bio-renewable and biodegradable polymers has been intensively increased since they are more friendly to the environment than the conventionally used petroleum-based polymers. Chitosan is globally the second most ubiquitous renewable natural polymer following cellulose. Chitosan is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer characterized by unique structural, chemical, and biological properties. In the aim to obtain chitosan with ultimate properties, different nanofillers reinforcements were incorporated. The presences of nanosized filler result in very promising materials since they exhibit enhanced properties with preservation of the material biodegradability without eco-toxicity. Nowadays, chitosan bionanocomposites represent a class of materials that has attracted considerable attention especially in biomedical field thinks to their inherent properties such as nontoxicity, biodegradability as well as their improved structural and functional properties. This chapter highlights the recent advances in the development of chitosan bionanocomposite films. Preparative techniques, characterization and property improvements, these novel materials are discussed. A comparative study of chitosan-based bionanocomposite films prepared by incorporation with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), an organo-modified montmorillonite. The chemical and physical properties of the obtained bio-hybrid films with different concentration in terms of NCC and OMMT were discussed.