Bacterial cellulose-poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite hydrogels prepared by chemical crosslinking

The bacterial cellulosepoly(vinyl alcohol) (BC/PVA) nanocomposite hydrogels using BC as the reinforcement and PVA as the matrix materials were formed in coagulating bath and crosslinked with formaldehyde, and characterized by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, mechanical properties tests, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscope analysis. It was known that the chemical cross-linked BC/PVA nanocomposite hydrogels exhibited some promising characteristics, such as appropriate mechanical strength and excellent thermal properties. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012