Development and Characterization of Self -assembled Bacterial Cellulose Nonwoven Film.

Bacterial cellulose is one of the widely discussed biomaterials due to its unique physical, mechanical and chemical characteristics. In this research, bacterial cellulosic film (BCF) was developed using Acetobacter xylinum strain in green tea as a source of carbon under static culture conditions. The developed BCF was evaluated for their morphological properties using a scanning electron microscope and the approximate fiber diameter noted as 38–40 nm. The purity of the cellulose evaluated through an X-ray diffraction method identified that the developed cellulose is Iα rich – triclinic type with 89.61% of crystallinity. The thermal behavior of the BCF was evaluated using TGA and DSC. The results indicated that the major weight loss occurred from 250 to 500°C. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the developed BCF was very high and it was 165°C. Concerning the mechanical properties, the BCF had lower tensile strength (13.82 Kgf/Cm2), Elongation (10.13 mm) and air (19.72 cm3/cm2/sec) and water vapor permeability value (151 g/m2/day) than the woven cotton fabric. However, the water absorbency (0.7 s) and water holding capacity (320%) are superior to the cotton fabric. The contact angle of the BCF was noted around 28.53°, which is an indication of the higher hydrophilic nature of the BCF. These results provide an insight into the potential applications of bacterial cellulosic material in the apparel and textile sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]