Bioinspired Environmentally Friendly Amorphous CaCO₃-Based Transparent Composites Comprising Cellulose Nanofibers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) stabilized by acidic macromolecules is key for eco-friendly composites.
• Developing transparent, mechanically robust materials is crucial for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize transparent and mechanically tough ACC-based composite materials.
• To investigate the use of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) in ACC composites.
• To evaluate the properties of these novel composite materials.

Main Methods:

• Solution mixing of ACC with water-dispersible cellulose derivatives (CMC and CNFs).
• Characterization of composite film properties, including transparency and mechanical strength.
• Analysis of molecular-scale interactions between components.

Main Results:

• Achieved transparent and mechanically tough ACC-based composite films.
• Identified optimal mixture ratios (40 wt% CMC, 40 wt% CNFs, 20 wt% ACC) for superior properties.
• Demonstrated high mechanical properties: Young's modulus of 15.8 ± 0.93 GPa and tensile strength of 268 ± 20 MPa.

Conclusions:

• The solution mixing method is effective for producing mechanically tough, eco-friendly materials.
• Molecular interactions ensure homogeneous dispersion, leading to high transparency and mechanical performance.
• These ACC-based composites offer new possibilities for biodegradable, tough, and transparent material applications.