Transparent and flexible amorphous cellulose-acrylic hybrids

• A single solvent efficiently dissolves both hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers.
• Hybrid films are free standing, transparent and flexible.
• Complete miscibility between PMMA and cellulose at any ratio.
• Thermal and mechanical properties of hybrid films are considerably improved.
• Blends exhibit relative high dissolution resistance to common organic solvents.

Amorphous cellulose and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends in the form of free standing transparent hybrid films were prepared by dissolving both polymers in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) measurements indicated that the transparency of the films was always maintained regardless of cellulose-PMMA proportions. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were carried out in order to characterize the chemical composition, intermolecular interactions and the crystallinity of the hybrid films. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and tensile test measurements demonstrated that amorphous cellulose improved the thermal and mechanical properties of PMMA considerably. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements showed that hybrid films had no micron scale phase separation or segregation, resulting in highly uniform and homogenous miscibility between amorphous cellulose and PMMA. The wetting characteristics of the hybrid films were also studied by water contact angle measurements. Hybrid films showed better water barrier properties in comparison to commercial paper packaging. Furthermore, the hybrid films exhibited relative high dissolution resistance to common organic solvents, which dissolve PMMA completely. Considering the recent interest in polymer blends based on natural and synthetic macromolecules, these new transparent hybrids can have various potential applications particularly in general packaging and biomedical technologies.

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