Crosslinking is an extensively exploited technique to tailor the properties of cellulose nanofibril (CNFs) to broaden their functional characteristics for various industrial applications. However, despite its effectiveness in surface modification, crosslinking significantly affects the flexibility and biodegradability of CNFs. This study investigates a green, innovative, facile, cost-effective, and scalable approach for fabricating high-strength, functional nanocellulose through crosslinking with a bioderived hyperbranched crosslinker synthesized via the esterification of glycerol (G) and succinic anhydride (SA). The wet-spun hybrid GSA–CNFs were subjected to post-heat treatment to form strong ester bonds. The optimal synthesis process yielded GSA–CNFs that exhibited a remarkable 63% and 88% improvement in Young’s modulus (34.07 GPa) and tensile strength (540.32 MPa), respectively, compared to pristine CNFs. Furthermore, the GSA–CNFs displayed multifunctional properties, including hydrophobicity, thermal stability, antioxidant activity, and optical properties. The GSA–CNFs developed in this study exhibit significant potential as sustainable nanocomposite materials, offering an effective alternative to conventional synthetic reinforcements. Their multifunctionality makes them highly suitable for a wide range of applications, including fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPCs), food packaging, and bioengineering.
Panicker et al. (Thu,) studied this question.