Oriented Bacterial Cellulose-Glass Fiber Nanocomposites with Enhanced Tensile Strength through Electric Field

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a kind of excellent nano-sized fibrous material produced by some microorganisms. However, commonly obtained randomly-oriented web-like form of BC nanofibers impedes achieving their full potential applications in some cases. In the present study, a facile method has been developed to orient the nanofibers through electric field. The nanofibers with an oriented structure were observed when BC producer (Gluconacetobacter xylinus) was cultured under an electric field of 10 mA. Subsequently, an oriented bacterial cellulose-glass fiber nanocomposite was prepared using a glass fiber and BC matrix under an electric field. The nanocomposites exhibited a significant improvement in tensile strength and thermostability. With an addition of 20 wt% GF, the tensile strength of the composite in perpendicular direction to DC was significantly increased to 1.44 -fold of that in parallel direction. It indicated by FT-IR and XRD that the chemical structure and crystallinity of BC were not affected by addition of glass fiber. The study opens up new possibilities for direct fabrication of mechanically robust BC nanocomposites that can replace traditional BC and composite.