Effect of Acrylic Acid Content on Modified NypaFruticans Regenerated Cellulose Biocomposite Films

Nypafruticans (NF) is one of the agriculture crops, which grows abundantly in Malaysia. It can be used as asubstitute for commercial cellulose in order to utilize biomass waste. Regenerated cellulose (RC) biocomposite films from NF and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were prepared by dissolving cellulose in lithium chloride (LiCl) and N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Acrylic acid (AA) was used as surface modifier of NF. The results indicated that the addition of NF in RC biocomposite films increases the tensile strength and Young's modulus of RC biocomposite film up to 3 wt%. The elongation at break of RC biocomposite films decreased with increases of NF content. The modified NF with AA improved the tensile strength and Young's modulus but reduced the elongation at break of RC biocomposite films. The highest tensile strength and Young's modulus of RC biocomposite films was exhibited by 3% AA content.