Abstract
Nanofibrilated cellulose (NFC) films have potential to replace synthetic polymers as flexible films for packaging. However, NFC is hydrophilic and water acts as plasticizer decreasing the stiffness of the films and reducing its barrier effectiveness against water vapor and oxygen. Here we describe the surface modification of cellulose films with blocked diisocyanates through a dip** and heating process not requiring the previous drying of the materials. The reactions were conducted at 170 °C for a few minutes during which deblocking led to a new urethane bond formation with NFC surface hydroxyl groups, thus hydrophobizing the films. A remarkable enhancement in water repellent properties was confirmed by water contact angles higher than 110° and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of 40 g/m2 day, which is very low when compared to similar materials, representing a reduction of 74% with respect to the non- modified films.
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modified by the dip** plus heating treatment with the blocked diisocyanate
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Acknowledgments
This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001. Also, authors acknowledge CNPq for the doctoral fellowship granted to G.S (CNPq proc. 140249/2017-6). AJFC acknowledge CNPq for research funding project # 03847/2019-0.
Funding
This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES) – Grant number: Finance Code 001 and CNPq for the doctoral fellowship grant number CNPq proc. 140249/2017–6 both to GS and financial support to AJFC from CNPq for research funding project Grant number 03847/2019–0.
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de Souza, G., Belgacem, M.N., Gandini, A. et al. Low permeable hydrophobic nanofibrilated cellulose films modified by dip** and heating processing technique. Cellulose 28, 1617–1632 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03619-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03619-3