Structural and functional insights into hydrolyzed bacterial cellulose reinforced chitosan–polyethylene oxide blends

Abstract

This study presents the innovative development of hydrolyzed bacterial cellulose (HBC)-reinforced polyethylene oxide (PEO) and chitosan (CH) composite blend films, showcasing significant advancements in their mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties. By incorporating HBC at varying ratios (2, 4, and 6% wt), the blend films demonstrated a remarkable improvement in tensile strength (from 2.86 to 4.46 MPa) and elongation at break (from 9.99 to 12.79%), attributed to enhanced chain entanglement and filler-reinforcement effects. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed an increase in storage modulus (E') and glass transition temperature (T_g) with HBC addition, reflecting altered segmental dynamics and strengthened intermolecular interactions. Thermal analysis showed an elevation in thermal stability, with the decomposition temperature increasing by approximately 10 °C for PEO. Surface characterization using AFM and SEM highlighted the formation of a denser surface texture with increased roughness (RMS values rising from 18.8 to 26 nm), ensuring better dispersion and mechanical integrity. FT-IR and XRD confirmed modifications in PEO crystallinity, where CH addition initially reduced PEO crystallinity due to hydrogen bonding, while further HBC incorporation contributed to a partial recovery of ordered regions. Additionally, the entanglement density (N) increased from 230,840 to 582,580 mol.m⁻³ supporting enhanced network formation. This research uniquely integrates HBC, PEO and CH, into a single system, filling a critical gap in material science and offering eco-friendly, high-performance materials for applications in biomedical devices, food packaging, and sustainable technologies.

Graphical abstract