Cellulose fibre networks reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose/chitosan complex layer-by-layer

An eco-friendly and full-polysaccharide polyelectrolyte complex system was developed to enhance the wet and dry tensile strength of cellulose fibre networks. Cellulose fibres were treated by carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in pulp suspension. Paper sheets made from CMC-treated fibres were further modified via the layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of CMC/chitosan (CS) complex. The effect of number of CMC/CS layers on the strength properties of cellulose fibre networks (both under wet and dry conditions) was studied and sample structure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) of CMC/CS-treated samples was also examined. The observed changes in the strength properties of treated samples were explained based on the competition between the rate of diffusion of CS to the fibre–fibre bond areas and the rate of disassociation of fibre–fibre interactions during the LbL deposition process.