Preparation and Properties of Corn Stalk Cellulose Microcrystal Reinforced Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Composite Film

The biodegradable composite films were prepared from corn stalk microcrystalline cellulose as filler and poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA) as polymeric matrix. The crystallinity, the tensile properties and the thermal properties of the composites were tested. Corn stalk microcrystalline cellulose was distributed in PVA films as the crystalline state. The results show that the tensile properties and thermal properties were improved with the addition of corn stalk microcrystalline cellulose. When corn stalk microcrystalline cellulose mass fraction was 10%, both temperature of initial decomposition and maximum weight loss rate of composite film were raised by 19.25°C and 17.17°C, and the tensile strength increased by 37.91%, and the elongation at break increased by 58.93% compared to those of pure PVA.