Hybrid HPMC nanocomposites containing bacterial cellulose nanocrystals and silver nanoparticles

• Bio based hybrid HPMC nanocomposite films containing a combination of bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNC) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared.
• The use of AgNPs along with BCNC, helped to regain the ductility of nanocomposite films without affecting other properties.
• AgNPs formed complexes with the hydroxyl groups of both HPMC and BCNC and made the nanocomposite less hydrophilic.
• This type of hybrid nanocomposites with superior properties will be useful in eco-friendly food packaging applications.

Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) based hybrid nanocomposites reinforced with bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNC) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) had been prepared and characterised. BCNC was capable of improving the tensile strength and modulus of HPMC, but they made the film more brittle. The addition of AgNPs along with BCNC, helped to regain some of the lost elongation properties without affecting other properties. Moisture sorption analysis proved that the hydrophilicity of the nanocomposite decreased considerably by the addition of these nanomaterials. Several mathematical models were also used to fit the experimental sorption results. A unique combination of two nanomaterials was highly effective in overcoming certain limitations of nanocomposites which uses only one type of nanomaterial. This type of hybrid nanocomposites with superior properties is expected to be useful in eco-friendly food packaging applications.