Development of Cymbopogon nardus-Derived Nanocellulose-Reinforced PVA Composite Films for Sustainable Packaging Applications

Author

H.P.U.Kalhara, H.D.C.N. Gunawardana, V.P.V.Tharaka, J.A.G.S. Madhuwanthi, D.K.A.Induranga, G.D.K.V.Madhuwantha, K.R. Koswattage


Abstract

 The increasing demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived polymers has encouraged the development of biodegradable polymer composites reinforced with renewable nanomaterials. In this study, Cymbopogon nardus leaves were investigated as a sustainable precursor for nanocellulose production and its application as a reinforcing filler in PVA-based composite films. Nanocellulose was isolated through acid hydrolysis followed by neutralization and characterized using FTIR, SEM, and EDS to evaluate its structural and morphological characteristics. The isolated nanocellulose was subsequently incorporated into PVA films containing glycerol as a plasticizer at different loading levels. The resulting composite films were evaluated in terms of tensile strength and thermal conductivity. Incorporation of glycerol reduced the tensile strength of pristine PVA from 21.8 to 14.61 MPa, whereas the addition of 100 µL nanocellulose dispersion increased the tensile strength to 28.0 MPa, attributed to enhanced hydrogen-bonding interactions between nanocellulose and the PVA matrix. Further increases in nanocellulose loading resulted in reduced tensile strength, likely due to nanocellulose aggregation and associated stress-concentration regions. Nanocellulose incorporation also modified the thermal transport behaviour of the films, with appropriate loadings providing increased thermal resistance. These findings demonstrate the potential of C. nardus-derived nanocellulose as a renewable reinforcing filler for PVA-based biodegradable films with tunable mechanical and thermal properties, offering promising opportunities for sustainable packaging applications.



Keywords

Nanocellulose, Cymbopogon nardus, Tensile strength, Thermal conductivity, Biodegradable packaging



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References


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