LAUSR

The current work aimed to evaluate the influence of adding bamboo cellulose nanofibrils on the performance of poly(vinyl alcohol)—PVA and modified cassava starch—FMM blend nanocomposites. Nanofibrils were produced after 5 and 30 passes through the mechanical defibrillator. Blends formed from PVA and FMM in an 80/20 ratio were used for casting preparation of the nanocomposites reinforced with 6.5% of nanofibrils. Atomic force microscopy showed the deconstruction of the fiber wall with release of the cellulose nanofibrils. A higher degree of nano-fibrillation occurred after 30 passes. The interaction between the polymers and the reinforcement after 30 passes was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electronic microscopy. The higher nano-fibrillation promoted higher homogeneity, cohesion and more compact structure, thus promoting the formation of larger well-defined crystals, which acted as nucleating agents in the matrix, as demonstrated by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffractrometry. It led to improvements of the physical, thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, conferring them great potential for applications in the plastic film industries.