Preparation and characterization of nanocrystalline cellulose/Eucommia ulmoides gum nanocomposite film

•NCC/EUG nanocomposite films were prepared without using any plasticizers.•NCC/EUG nanocomposite films were characterized by Raman spectra, AFM, XRD, TGA, and DSC.•Wettability, mechanical, and water vapor barrier properties of these films were analyzed. The nanocomposite films were prepared using Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) matrix reinforced with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) at different concentrations. Subsequently, the obtained films were characterized by Raman spectra, AFM, XRD, TGA, and DSC. Meanwhile, the wettability, mechanical, and water vapor barrier properties of these films were analyzed. AFM noticed that the average sizes of NCC were 81.95×50.17×13.06nm, while the size of molecular chain for EUG was 2530×57.33×1.28nm. In comparison with control film, a certain amount of NCC obviously improved elongation at break and enhanced their crystallinity and ΔHm. More importantly, NCC/EUG nanocomposite films presented lower thermal stability, glass transition temperature (Tg), melting temperature (Tm), and water vapor permeability (WVP) values, especially the WVP values of 4% NCC film were the lowest as 0.28×10−9, 0.30×10−9, and 0.58×10−9g/m/h/Pa at RH 34%, 55%, and 76%, respectively.