Multifunctional Bio-based Chitin Materials: Fabrication, Characterization and Applications

Chitin is the second most abundant biopolymers in the world owning outstanding mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and potential of functionalization. The development of various functional chitin materials aims for the high performance as well as the sustainability in different applications. This thesis reviews the current progress of chitin processing and multifunctional chitin materials, addressing two concerns in terms of the dispersion of chitin nanowhiskers in epoxy nanocomposites and development of a non-toxic chemical crosslinker for chitin aerogels. The first study developed an ionic liquid-chitin-epoxy composite with high chitin nanowhisker loading by incorporating ionic liquids. The samples have been characterized for structure-property relationship, demonstrating the reinforcing effect of chitin nanowhisker and dispersing role of ionic liquids. The second study developed a double crosslinked chitin aerogel via etherification with high porosity, low density, and improved mechanical properties. EGDE has been demonstrated an effective crosslinker and excessive of which causes emulsion and macroporous structure.M.A.S