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Polymers
Volume 17
Issue 23
10.3390/polym17233122
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Nanocellulose Filled Bio-Based PVA/Chitosan Nanocomposites: Structure–Property Relationships Toward Advanced Food Packaging Films

by
Konstantinos Papapetros
1,2,*,
Georgios N. Mathioudakis
1,
Dionysios Vroulias
1,
Nikolaos Koutroumanis
3,
Amaia Soto Beobide
1,
Olympia Kotrotsiou
4,
Giannis Penloglou
4,
Konstantinos S. Andrikopoulos
1,5 and
George A. Voyiatzis
1,*
1
Foundation for Research and Technology—Hellas (FORTH), Institute of Chemical Engineering Science (ICE-HT), Stadiou St., GR 265 04 Patras, Greece
2
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, GR 265 04 Patras, Greece
3
Application Driven Research & Innovative Engineering (ADRINE), Patras Science Park, Stadiou Street, Platani, GR 265 04 Patras, Greece
4
Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute (CPERI), 6th km. Charilaou-Thermi Rd, Thermi, GR 570 01 Thessaloniki, Greece
5
Department of Physics, University of Patras, GR 265 04 Patras, Greece
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Polymers 2025, 17(23), 3122; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233122 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 10 October 2025 / Revised: 17 November 2025 / Accepted: 21 November 2025 / Published: 24 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose and Chitosan: Characterization, Modification and Application)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Biodegradable chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite films were reinforced either with nanocrystalline cellulose (CNC) or nano-lignocellulose (NLC) and evaluated across a polyparametric design of five matrix ratios and three filler levels for active food packaging applications. ATR-FTIR, DSC, XRD, and SEM demonstrated that 1–5% nanocellulose loading induced a single relaxation temperature (Tg), homogenized the morphology, and enhanced the crystallinity of blend material, evidencing improved thermodynamic compatibility. SEM confirmed uniform filler dispersion up to 5% loading in PVA-rich matrices, whereas limited aggregation appeared in chitosan-dominant systems. CO2 barrier property (CO2 permeability coefficients) was diminished by more than two orders of magnitude and fell below 0.01 Barrer in CNC-filled 25-75 and NLC-filled 75-25 blends, while permeability to O2 and N2 remained undetectable under identical conditions. Meanwhile, Young’s modulus increased to 3.9 GPa, and tensile strengths of up to 109 MPa were achieved, without affecting the ductility in specific loading values. These data confirm that tailored selection of the filler/matrix combination, rather than elevated nanocellulose content, can simultaneously optimize barrier performance and mechanical integrity. The study therefore offers a scalable, water-based route for producing optically transparent nanocomposite membranes that satisfy either strict modified atmosphere or/and rigid packaging applications and advance the transition toward compostable/or even edible high-performance food contact materials.
Keywords: PVA; chitosan; nanocellulose; lignocellulose; nanocomposites; biodegradable food packaging PVA; chitosan; nanocellulose; lignocellulose; nanocomposites; biodegradable food packaging

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Papapetros, K.; Mathioudakis, G.N.; Vroulias, D.; Koutroumanis, N.; Soto Beobide, A.; Kotrotsiou, O.; Penloglou, G.; Andrikopoulos, K.S.; Voyiatzis, G.A. Nanocellulose Filled Bio-Based PVA/Chitosan Nanocomposites: Structure–Property Relationships Toward Advanced Food Packaging Films. Polymers 2025, 17, 3122. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233122

AMA Style

Papapetros K, Mathioudakis GN, Vroulias D, Koutroumanis N, Soto Beobide A, Kotrotsiou O, Penloglou G, Andrikopoulos KS, Voyiatzis GA. Nanocellulose Filled Bio-Based PVA/Chitosan Nanocomposites: Structure–Property Relationships Toward Advanced Food Packaging Films. Polymers. 2025; 17(23):3122. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233122

Chicago/Turabian Style

Papapetros, Konstantinos, Georgios N. Mathioudakis, Dionysios Vroulias, Nikolaos Koutroumanis, Amaia Soto Beobide, Olympia Kotrotsiou, Giannis Penloglou, Konstantinos S. Andrikopoulos, and George A. Voyiatzis. 2025. "Nanocellulose Filled Bio-Based PVA/Chitosan Nanocomposites: Structure–Property Relationships Toward Advanced Food Packaging Films" Polymers 17, no. 23: 3122. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233122

APA Style

Papapetros, K., Mathioudakis, G. N., Vroulias, D., Koutroumanis, N., Soto Beobide, A., Kotrotsiou, O., Penloglou, G., Andrikopoulos, K. S., & Voyiatzis, G. A. (2025). Nanocellulose Filled Bio-Based PVA/Chitosan Nanocomposites: Structure–Property Relationships Toward Advanced Food Packaging Films. Polymers, 17(23), 3122. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233122

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