Improvement of mechanical properties of chitosan film

Abstract

This paper investigates the intensity of the influence which poly (ethylene oxide) and poly(ethylene glycol) additions have on the mechanical and structural properties of chitosan films. The films based on highly viscous and medium viscous chitosan were produced under laboratory conditions. Poly(ethylene oxide), with the average molecular weight of 100 000, and poly (ethylene glycol), with the average molecular weight of 400, were added to the films. The infrared spectrums of produced films were obtained on the FT-IR spectrometer and mechanical properties including: tensile strength (MPa) and elongation at break (%) were tested. The results show that the addition of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(ethylene glycol) significantly affect the mechanical properties of chitosan films. The flexibility (expressed as the elongation at break) has increased more than five times, but there was a parallel decrease in film strength (expressed as tensile strength). The film based on highly viscous chitosan and poly(ethylene glycol) shows the best mechanical properties.

Keywords

• biofilm
• chitosan
• mechanical properties
• poly (ethylene oxide)
• poly (ethylene glycol)