Controlling Barrier and Mechanical Properties of Cellulose Nanocrystals by Blending with Chitin Nanofibers.

Chitin nanofibers (ChNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have been proposed as materials for renewable packaging with low O transmission that protect food, medicine, and electronics. A challenge in biomass-derived functional materials is tuning both barrier and mechanical properties, while minimizing process steps. A concept that merits additional study in this field is tuning of the barrier and mechanical properties by use of oppositely charged biomass-derived fibers, through interactions that support dense film formation.