Abstract:

Bacterial cellulose (BNC)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composites of various component ratios were obtained by three different methods: in situ synthesis of cellulose by Gluconacetobacter xylinus using the modified Schramm Hestrin culture medium mixed with PVA and two ex situ methods. One of them was the impregnation of synthesised BNC with PVA solution at 80 ± 5 °C, and the second one was involved the additional sterilisation of BNC/PVA mixture at 120 °C in an autoclave. It was found that the highest polymer content and basic weight was obtained using the in situ method. Composites obtained by these three methods were characterised by intermolecular interactions of BNC and PVA, which confirmed the FTIR spectroscopy. SEM revealed the internal structure of the composites, where the BNC fibres were partially coated by PVA.