Fabrication of Cellulose - Silk Composite in Liquid Phase with Green Solvent

In this research, cellulose-silk composites production in liquid phase was studied. In this respect, BMIMCl ionic liquid was synthesized in the laboratory and was used for dissolution purpose. After dissolution of the biopolymers and mixing them in the liquid phase, obtained suspension was spread in a Petri dish. Then, the composite gel was washed with running methanol to remove the IL, cellulose and cellulose-silk composite films were prepared and after processing, their transparency, water absorption and thickness swelling, water vapor permeability and tensile strength were determined. Also, further characterization of structure was performed using XRD technique. Results showed that both polymers were appropriately dissolved in Ionic liquid and the cellulose-silk composite was prepared in the liquid phase homogeneously. Water absorption, thickness swelling and water vapor permeability of the composites were increased but its transparency decreased comparing to pure cellulosic film.Original cellulose (cellulose I) was deformed to Cellulose IIcrystalline structure, during dissolution and regeneration. Also, tensile strength and Young's modulus of the composite were less than cellulosic film although the strain at break point was increased.