Poly(vinyl chloride) film filled with microcrystalline cellulose prepared from cotton fabric waste: properties and biodegradability study.

Hydrolysis of cotton fabric waste to produce microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was carried out using 2.5 N hydrochloric acid at 100 degrees C for 30 min. Characterization of the structure, morphology, particle size as well as the thermal decomposition of the obtained MCC were studied using X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope and laser light scattering particle size analyzer and thermogravimetric analyzer, respectively. These results indicated that the obtained MCC had a fibrous structure of a 40 microm average particle size and possessed a form of highly native crystalline cellulose I. In addition, its maximum degradation temperature was observed at 350 degrees C. The poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) films in this work were produced by first blending the produced MCC with PVC resin in amounts of 5-30 parts per hundred of resin. The blends were then made into film using a two-roll mill. The tensile properties of the film were measured using a Universal Testing Machine. The biodegradation tests were carried out in soil and in a moisture-controlled chamber. The biodegradability was estimated by the loss of mass, moisture absorption capacity and electron microscope studies. It was found that the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the blends increased with increasing amounts of MCC. Similarly, moisture absorption and biodegradability of the films were also increased as the amount of MCC increased. The results implied that MCC behaved not only as a reinforcing filler but also as a biodegradability promoter of PVC films.