Biocomposite cellulose-alginate films: Promising packaging materials

• Good compatibility between celluloses and alginate was observed.
• Micro- and nanocelluloses increased the mechanical properties of the alginate film.
• Cross-linking anionic nanocellulose reinforced film increased tensile strength 80%.
• Biocomposite with great grease barrier properties was obtained.
• Addition of celluloses and cross-linking increased water vapour barrier properties.

Biocomposite films based on cellulose and alginate were produced using unmodified birch pulp, microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and birch pulp derivate, nanofibrillated anionic dicarboxylic acid cellulose (DCC), having widths of fibres ranging from 19.0 μm to 25 nm as cellulose fibre materials. Ionically cross-linked biocomposites were produced using Ca2+ cross-linking. Addition of micro- and nanocelluloses as a reinforcement increased the mechanical properties of the alginate films remarkably, e.g. addition of 15% of NFC increased a tensile strength of the film from 70.02 to 97.97 MPa. After ionic cross-linking, the tensile strength of the film containing 10% of DCC was increased from 69.63 to 125.31 MPa. The biocomposite films showed excellent grease barrier properties and reduced water vapour permeability (WVP) after the addition of cellulose fibres, except when unmodified birch pulp was used.