Preparation of chitin nanofibril/polycaprolactone nanocomposite from a nonaqueous medium suspension

Chitin nanofibrils are prepared by treatment of commercial chitin in hydrochloric acid. It is found for the first time that the obtained chitin nanofibrils can be well dispersed in an organic solvent of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) due to its strong ability to form hydrogen bonds. Polycaprolactone (PCL), a water insoluble biodegradable polymer, is selected to blend with chitin nanofibrils to achieve chitin nanofibril/polycaprolactone (n-chitin/PCL) nanocomposites using TFE as a co-solvent. The results show the n-chitin/PCL nanocomposites, either in the form of solvent-cast films or electrospun fiber mats, both exhibit reinforced mechanical properties. Thus, the processing technique from a TFE suspension instead of aqueous suspensions is a good alternative to broaden the family of chitin nanofibril-based nanocomposites.