Fabrication and performance evaluation of TiO2 nanoparticle modified cellulose/PBS biocomposites

Abstract

Abstract In this study, jute fiber cellulose (JFC) was extracted from raw jute fibers using an alkaline (NaOH + H 2 O 2 ) chemical treatment. Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticle-dispersed cellulosic biocomposite films (JFC-TiO 2 ) were subsequently fabricated and coated with biodegradable polybutylene succinate (PBS). Mechanical characterization showed that the uncoated JFC films exhibited a Young’s modulus of 0.27 GPa, an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 8.2 MPa, and an elongation at break of 4.1%. The incorporation of TiO 2 nanoparticles decreased the mechanical properties of the uncoated films. However, when laminated with PBS, the presence of TiO 2 enhanced the stiffness and strength of the composites. The JFC-TiO 2 -PBS film containing 0.5 mg TiO 2 achieved a Young’s modulus of 0.33 GPa, a UTS of 33 MPa, and an elongation at break of 19.7%. These data compared favorably with other cellulose-based biocomposites, surpassing the mechanical performance of banana plant and water hyacinth paper, with UTS of 27.5 and 14.8 MPa, respectively. In addition, the current study exhibited superior elongation to that of tree bark composites (2.0%). Biodegradation testing confirmed efficient compost decomposition of the JFC-TiO 2 films, with the 1.0 mg and 2.5 mg TiO 2 samples reaching biodegradation levels of 62% and 73%, respectively, after 45 days. Additional characterizations, including Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and water contact angle (WCA) measurements were conducted to evaluate structural and surface properties. Particularly, the PBS-coated JFC-TiO₂ films exhibited superior water resistance, with a WCA of 87.6°, compared with commercial coated paper, addressing a key limitation of conventional cellulosic packaging materials. Owing to their natural origin, biodegradability, and enhanced physico-mechanical performance, these JFC-based biocomposite films show strong potential for sustainable packaging and other environmentally responsible materials applications.