Nanochitins of varying aspect ratio and properties of microfibers produced by interfacial complexation with seaweed alginate

Recent developments in dry spinning by interfacial complexation have incorporated biobased nanoparticles. So far, spun microfibers have been demonstrated by combining anionic nanoparticles and oppositely charged polyelectrolytes or, alternatively, by using cationic counterparts of the former, after given chemical modification. Here we propose chitin nanofibers or nanochitin (ChNF), with built-in cationic groups for complexation in aqueous media with a polyanion, seaweed alginate (SA). Their combination results in stable microfibers after drawing in air the contacting suspensions. Significantly, we elucidate the effect of nanoparticle’s aspect ratio (15, 25 and > 60) on the mechanical performance of such composite microfibers. This was made possible upon size fractionation of ChNF obtained by deconstruction of precursor residual blue crab biomass. The interfacial complexation from aqueous media was possible at a mass fraction in the range between 0.3 and 1 wt% for each component and pH between 4 and 7. Str...