Improving the physical and chemical functionality of starch‐derived films with biopolymers

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The physical and chemical properties of composite starch-based films containing cellulosic fiber, chitosan, and gelatin were investigated. Films containing both cellulosic fibers and chitosan demonstrated tremendous enhancements in film strength and gas permeation. The water absorbency of composite films could be greatly reduced in film composites containing cellulosic fibers and gelatin, but the inclusion of chitosan into these films provided a higher hydrophilicity, increasing water absorbency. Film transparency was not noticeably affected in the composite films that were made. These films may have wide application in the food packaging, agricultural mulching, and the medical industries.

Physical properties of edible modified starch/carboxymethyl cellulose films

“…This result indicates that the combination of cellulosic fiber with starch improves water resistance to a certain degree since, as already known, CMC is hydrophilic material, although its hydrophilicity is lower than that of starch (Ma et al, 2008;Mohanty, Misra, & Hinrichsen, 2000). Similar results were obtained by other researchers who observed a reduction in the water absorbed by polymer blends and biocomposites made with addition of cellulosic fiber (Ban et al, 2006), hemicelluloses (Gaspar et al, 2005) and jute strands (Vilaseca et al, 2007) to starch matrix.…”

“…On the other hand, researchers who examined the effect of cellulosic fibers on the mechanical properties of the starch films, reported different results from these work. The increasing UTS and reducing SB, are the common results that reported as result of incorporation of cellulosic fiber (Ban et al, 2006), hemicelluloses (Gaspar et al, 2005), jute strands (Vilaseca et al, 2007), Manila hemp fiber (Ochi, 2006) and vegetable fibre (Fama et al, 2009) to the starch matrix. Different results in current work may be attributed to cross-linking effect of CA.…”

“…An alternative promising strategy to improve the properties of edible films and coatings is through blending of biopolymers. Biocomposite or blend films are usually composed of two or three biopolymers and are prepared by varying methods (Ban, Song, Argyropoulos, & Lucia, 2006;Fama, Gerschenson, & Goyanes, 2009;Gaspar, Benko, Dogossy, Reczey, & Czigany, 2005;Vilaseca et al, 2007).…”

A Study of the Mechanical and Fracture Behavior of Jute‐Fabric‐Reinforced Clay‐Modified Thermoplastic Starch‐Matrix Composites

“…However, a few disadvantages, like the very high crystallinity resulting in high brittleness, low strength properties and high hydrophilicity have limited their use as the sole matrix material in biocomposites. [14] They are therefore, almost always blended/grafted with some other polymers in the presence of plasticizers to overcome those drawbacks. Poly(vinyl alcohol) is very well suited for blending with starch with a plasticizer like glycerol to give a more practical, commercially-viable and useful product.…”

Cellulose Nanofiber for Eco-friendly Polymer Nanocomposites

“…Cellulose nanofiber used in this study is typically in the size range, and therefore unless significant nanofiber agglomeration occurs, highly transparent nanocomposite films should be expected. There are also some opinion stated that the decrement of opacity especially at lower filler incorporation is caused by discontinuous phase in the composite samples after drying process (Ban et al 2006). Opacity of the film Anm Cellulose Nanofiber Incorporation (%) Fig.…”