Biodegradable blends based on chitin and chitosan: Production, structure, and properties

Abstract

Blends based on LDPE and chitin or chitosan were prepared under high-temperature shear deformations in a rotor disperser at different initial ratios of the components. Although one of the components is an infusible polymer (polysaccharide), the powder blends were obtained. The composition of the powder fractions was shown to be identical to the original blend composition. It was found that the addition of poly(ethylene oxide) to the mentioned blends improves the biodegradability of the polymer materials and extends their application areas.Using various physicochemical methods, the structural and morphological changes in the polymer compositions under the action of shear deformations were examined, the mechanical characteristics of prepared films were determined, and also the features of their bio-, thermo-, and photo-oxidative degradation were studied.

Thermal degradation of biodegradable blends of polyethylene with cellulose and ethylcellulose

“…A broad variation in Arrhenius parameters reported in literature, activation energy (E) ranging from 160 to 320 kJ/mol, pre-exponential factor (A) between 10 11 and 10 21 s −1 [14][15][16]. The reasons for the broad range of E value are differences in molecular weight and various additives, and differences in experimental conditions [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Previously Bockhorn et al proposed a formal reaction mechanism of LDPE thermal degradation [14].…”

“…Among natural polymers a special attention should be drawn to a renewable and almost inexhaustible source of raw materials -polysaccharides. The synthetic polymers, for example, industrial polyolefins show high mechanical and thermal characteristics; they are stable against the action of microorganisms and are incapable of biodegradation, whereas the natural polymers characterized by biodegradability exhibit poor mechanical properties [4][5][6]. The materials, obtained from these polymer blends can be used as packaging materials, films for food products, and articles for short-term use since they are environmentally friendly, unlike synthetic polymer ones.…”

Development and characterization of an LDPE/chitosan composite antimicrobial film for chilled fish storage

“…Chitosan is a weak base and is insoluble in water, but soluble in dilute aqueous acidic solutions like acetic acid and propionic acid. The direct combination of synthetic materials with biodegradable materials is one of the easier and economic ways for biomaterial production [6] and also enhances the expansion and functional properties of the materials. Extrusion and press moulding techniques are used in the production of chitosan and low density polyethylene (LDPE) films, which allow chitosan to perform antimicrobial activity on different bacterial strains [7,8].…”

Improved miscibility of low‐density polyethylene/chitosan blends through variation in the compounding length

“…[3][4][5][6] Blending allows the functional properties of the materials to be enhanced for a broader range of potential applications. Furthermore, as synthetic polymers are commonly available and have a low cost of production, polymer blends are gaining importance because of their favorable balance among their properties, cost, and environmental requirements.…”

“…Furthermore, as synthetic polymers are commonly available and have a low cost of production, polymer blends are gaining importance because of their favorable balance among their properties, cost, and environmental requirements. 7 Chitosan, a linear polysaccharide consisting of 1,4 -linked 2-amino-deoxy-b-D-glucan, is the N-deacetylated derivative of chitin. Chitosan is a renewable raw material commonly found in nature, and it is the second most abundant natural polysaccharide after cellulose.…”