Continuous microfiber drawing by interfacial charge complexation between anionic cellulose nanofibers and cationic chitosan

This study describes a novel process of drawing fibers generated by the electrostatic complexation of negatively charged nanocellulose fibers with positively charged chitosan macromolecules. The process involves the continuous pulling of the aqueous media incorporating each polymer at their interface. The morphology of the wet and dry fibers, assessed by optical and electron microscopy, shows that the cellulose nanofibers surrounded by chitosan were aligned along the fiber direction. This was supported by the very high mechanical properties of the dry fibers.