Improving physical properties of polyvinyl alcohol film through the addition of nanocellulose prepared from palm oil solid waste

Abstract

Cellulose from the palm oil solid waste (oil palm shells and stems) be isolated and used as a filler material in a biodegradable plastic, in order to improve its mechanical properties. Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is a biodegradable polymer and compatible for nanocellulose fillers, where its mechanical properties can reach the same level as the conventional plastic. In this study, nanocellulose has been successfully prepared from the oil palm shells and stems with acid hydrolysis method and applied as a filler for PVA/nanocellulose film composite. The characterizations include Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical properties (tensile and elongation). The FTIR and DSC analysis confirm the improvement of the mechanical properties after the addition of nanocellulose, where the tensile strength reaches 14.64 kgf/mm2 with the optimal thermal ratio at 203.5°C. Nevertheless, the addition of 20% nanocellulose reduces the value of tensile strength and elongation.