@article { ISI:000259888700043,
	title = {Biocomposites of cellulose reinforced starch: improvement of properties by photo-induced crosslinking},
	journal = {Bioresource Technology},
	volume = {99},
	number = {18},
	year = {2008},
	month = {DEC},
	pages = {8803-8809},
	publisher = {ELSEVIER SCI LTD},
	type = {Article},
	address = {THE BOULEVARD, LANGFORD LANE, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD OX5 1GB, OXON, ENGLAND},
	abstract = {<p>In the present study, the composite films have been prepared from the aqueous dispersions of starch with microcrystalline cellulose using glycerol as plasticizer and irradiated under ultraviolet (UV) light using sodium benzoate as photo-sensitizer. Photocrosslinking was characterized by measuring the water absorption under 100\% relative humidity, swelling degree and gel fraction in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSC), upon irradiation time. Both, the incorporation of cellulose and photo-irradiation were found to decrease the water absorption, swelling in DMSO and increase the gel fraction. Thermal transitions indicated the anti-plasticization of amylopectin chains at the fiber/matrix interface. With increasing content of cellulose and photo-irradiation time, the tensile modulus and strength were found to improve. It is summarized that the combination of cellulose reinforcement and photo-crosslinking of matrix has improved the physical and mechanical properties. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</p>},
	keywords = {Biocomposites, cellulose, Photo-irradiation and crosslinking, Starch},
	issn = {0960-8524},
	doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2008.04.045},
	author = {Kumar, Annamalai Pratheep and Singh, Raj Pal}
}
@article { ISI:000288092200005,
	title = {Preparation and characterization of bioceramic nanocomposites based on hydroxyapatite (HA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)},
	journal = {Macromolecular Research},
	volume = {18},
	number = {12},
	year = {2010},
	month = {DEC},
	pages = {1160-1167},
	publisher = {SPRINGER},
	address = {233 SPRING ST, NEW YORK, NY 10013 USA},
	abstract = {<p>We report the synthesis of biomimetic nanocomposites based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles via a co-precipitation method. Physico-chemical characterization was performed before and after calcination by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, solid state (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The formation of nanocomposites was observed by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The spectral and crystallographic data indicated the formation of hydroxyapatite in the presence of CMC. They were observed as aggregates of HA nanoparticles and CMC, whose sizes were approximately similar to 260 +/- 40 nm. The crystallite size of the hydroxyapatite particles decreased (with 2 wt\% 18 +/- 3 nm) with increasing CMC content. The morphological aspects of the calcined samples revealed the sintering ability of HA nanoparticles. Nanocomposites of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles that mimic the process of nucleation and growth in nature can be prepared using biomacromolecules such as CMC.</p>},
	keywords = {biopolymer, cellulose, hydroxyapatite, Nanoparticles, Particle size, X-ray diffraction},
	issn = {1598-5032},
	doi = {10.1007/s13233-010-1208-3},
	author = {Kumar, Annamalai Pratheep and Mohaideen, Kamal Khaja and Alariqi, Sameh A. S. and Singh, Raj Pal}
}
