Carbohydrate Polymers, vol.133, pp.284-293, 2015 (SCI-Expanded)
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Biocomposites of chitosan (CS)/cellulose nanocrystals (CN) were prepared by using solution casting method. Influences of solution preparation method and CN content on the properties of composites were investigated. Mechanical stirring/ultrasonication or microfluidization were used to disperse nanocrystals in the chitosan matrix. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, DSC, TGA, TMA and contact angle measurements. SEM analysis revealed that microfluidization decreased CN aggregates in matrix. Formation of hydrogen bonds between CS and CN in nanocomposites prepared by using microfluidization was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. This high interaction led to an increment of the crystallinity of chitosan films. T