Performance of jute cellulose nanocrystal-reinforced cellulose acetate composite: possible application of spectacle frame.

To mitigate the considerable environmental footprint associated with the global waste produced throughout the life cycle of eyeglasses, contact lenses, and related products, a sustainable solution has been devised. This involves jute cellulose nanocrystals (JCNCs) reinforced with cellulose acetate to develop a biodegradable composite for the possible application of spectacle frames. Cellulose nanocrystals were synthesized by acid hydrolysis from jute fibers, and their spherical morphology, as well as their crystalline particle size of 7 nm, was analyzed using a particle size analyzer, SEM, and XRD. The spectacle frame was prepared by dissolving cellulose acetate (CA) and JCNCs in an organic solvent and homogenizing them by an ultrasonication process. Finally, the homogeneous biopolymer liquid was cast in a resin mold and dried at 70 °C. The loading of JCNCs in the CA matrix reached 0.4%, where increasing the percentage of JCNCs influenced the thermal and mechanical behavior. The optimum JCNC loading (0.2%) increased the mechanical properties from 32.5 to 55.4 MPa, and the thermal residue (from TGA analysis) increased from 35.07% to 44.29% compared to those of the films of CA and JCNC + CA. The porosity of the JCNC + CA composites was demonstrated using surface morphology techniques, and the hydrophilic properties of the composites were investigated by contact angle measurements and WVTRA measurements. The functional groups were analyzed using the FTIR technique, and a combination of various techniques, such as TG-MS and XRD, was used to investigate the purity of CA and the JCNCs.Graphical abstract: To mitigate the considerable environmental footprint associated with the global waste produced throughout the life cycle of eyeglasses, contact lenses, and related products, a sustainable solution has been devised. This involves jute cellulose nanocrystals (JCNCs) reinforced with cellulose acetate to develop a biodegradable composite for the possible application of spectacle frames. Cellulose nanocrystals were synthesized by acid hydrolysis from jute fibers, and their spherical morphology, as well as their crystalline particle size of 7 nm, was analyzed using a particle size analyzer, SEM, and XRD. The spectacle frame was prepared by dissolving cellulose acetate (CA) and JCNCs in an organic solvent and homogenizing them by an ultrasonication process. Finally, the homogeneous biopolymer liquid was cast in a resin mold and dried at 70 °C. The loading of JCNCs in the CA matrix reached 0.4%, where increasing the percentage of JCNCs influenced the thermal and mechanical behavior. The optimum JCNC loading (0.2%) increased the mechanical properties from 32.5 to 55.4 MPa, and the thermal residue (from TGA analysis) increased from 35.07% to 44.29% compared to those of the films of CA and JCNC + CA. The porosity of the JCNC + CA composites was demonstrated using surface morphology techniques, and the hydrophilic properties of the composites were investigated by contact angle measurements and WVTRA measurements. The functional groups were analyzed using the FTIR technique, and a combination of various techniques, such as TG-MS and XRD, was used to investigate the purity of CA and the JCNCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]