Effect of extracted microcrystalline cellulose on PVA/microcrystalline cellulose biocomposite

Abstract

In this study, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) formed from oil palm (Elaeis guineesis) trunks (OPT) by using water-treated fibre and alkali bleaching techniques. The prepared MCC with different compositions (0.5wt%, 1.0wt% and 1.5wt%) was implemented as reinforcement in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to form PVA/MCC biocomposite with glycerine as the plasticizer. The morphology of the extracted MCC was visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of the MCC as biofiller in PVA matrices was studied using Universal Testing Machine. SEM result showed the rough surface and minor agglomeration of the MCC while XRD revealed the MCC was semi-crystalline with the crystallinity index of 48.7 %. The tensile strength of PVA/MCC biocomposites discovered the highest stress value obtained at 1.0wt% of MCC and followed by 1.5wt% and 0.5wt% with the value of 11.87, 10.07 and 9.88 MPA, respectively. It is found that the highest elongation break values of the PVA/MCC biocomposites at 54.93 mm (1.0wt% of MCC) and followed by 53.72 mm (0.5wt% of MCC) and 25.51 mm (1.5wt% of MCC).