Cold Alkali Treatment Enabled Stretchable yet Mechanically Strong All-Cellulose Composite

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Sustainable Materials

Background:

• Biodegradable cellulose films show potential as plastic alternatives.
• Developing stretchable all-cellulose composites (ACCs) with high mechanical strength remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a scalable strategy for fabricating stretchable and mechanically robust ACCs.
• To engineer multiscale cellulose architectures for enhanced material properties.

Main Methods:

• Kraft pulp underwent mechanical pretreatment and cold NaOH treatment.
• Swollen-regenerated microfibers were integrated with dissolution-regenerated cellulose.
• Vacuum filtration and press-drying were employed to form multiscale architectures.

Main Results:

• The developed ACC exhibited a tensile strength of 89.0 MPa and a strain to failure of 24.7%.
• The material demonstrated 1.3 times higher strength, 1.5 times greater stretchability, and 3.8 times improved toughness compared to microfibrillated cellulose films.
• The ACC possessed enhanced wet strength, grease resistance, and oxygen barrier properties.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully demonstrated a scalable approach for creating high-performance ACCs.
• Engineered multiscale cellulose networks offer a viable, sustainable solution for advanced packaging materials.
• The developed ACCs present a promising eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastics.