Effect of Plasticizer Content on Mechanical and Water Vapor Permeability of Maize Starch/PVOH/Chitosan Composite Films
Carolina Caicedo,
Claudio Alonso Díaz-Cruz,
Enrique Javier Jiménez-Regalado,
Rocio Yaneli Aguirre-Loredo
Affiliations
Carolina Caicedo
Grupo de Investigación en Química y Biotecnología (QUIBIO), Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Pampalinda, Santiago de Cali 760035, Colombia
Claudio Alonso Díaz-Cruz
Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Blvd. Venustiano Carranza SN, Saltillo 25280, Coahuila, Mexico
Enrique Javier Jiménez-Regalado
Departamento de Procesos de Polimerización, Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada (CIQA), Blvd. Enrique Reyna Hermosillo 140, Saltillo 25294, Coahuila, Mexico
Rocio Yaneli Aguirre-Loredo
Departamento de Procesos de Polimerización, Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada (CIQA), Blvd. Enrique Reyna Hermosillo 140, Saltillo 25294, Coahuila, Mexico
Packaging materials based on biodegradable polymers are a viable alternative to replace conventional plastic packaging from fossil origin. The type of plasticizer used in these materials affects their functionality and performance. The effect of different plasticizers such as glycerol (GLY), sorbitol (SOR), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15% (w/w) on the structural features and functional properties of starch/PVOH/chitosan films was evaluated. The incorporation of a plasticizer increased the thickness of the biodegradable composite films. Furthermore, the material plasticized with 30% (w/w) sorbitol had the highest elongation at break, lowest water vapor permeability, and better thermal resistance. The results obtained in this study suggest that maize starch/PVOH/chitosan biodegradable composite films are a promising packaging material, and that sorbitol is the most suitable plasticizer for this formulation.
