Chitin-chitosan nanocomposite gels: Reinforcement of chitosan hydrogels with rod-like chitin nanowhiskers

Abstract

Nanocomposite gels containing chitosan as a network polymer and chitin nanowhiskers as reinforcing fillers were prepared by cross-linking with the blocked isocyanate hexamethylene-1,6-di-(aminocarboxysulfonate) (HDS). Youngs modulus and stress at break of the nanocomposite gels increased to maximum values of 169 and 135 kPa, respectively, with increase in whisker content up to 13.3%, whereas the degree of swelling decreased from 357 to 33.0. © 2012 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan (SPSJ).