Innovative Composite Films of Chitosan, Methylcellulose, and Nanoparticles

Abstract

Plastic is readily available and inexpensive, so it is becoming the main material for packaging. Unfortunately plastics do not biodegrade and, if reduced in small pieces, contaminate soil and waterways. In the present work, natural films composed of chitosan, methylcellulose, and silica (SiO(2)) nanoparticles (NPs) were developed as new packaging materials. The effect of the incorporation of NPs into the polymeric film matrix was evaluated. An excellent improvement of the mechanical properties was obtained for nanostructured films with a composition of CH:MC 50:50 and NPs 1% w/v that make these materials able to replace plastics and derivatives, reducing environmental pollution.

Keywords

chitosan; methylcellulose; nanostructured films; packaging; silica nanoparticles; WATER-VAPOR PERMEABILITY; BARRIER PROPERTIES; BILAYER FILMS; EDIBLE FILMS; PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES; MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES; PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES; CHITIN; DEACETYLATION; PLASTICIZER

DOI

10.1111/j.1750-3841.2011.02295.x

Citation

Mura, S., Corrias, F., Stara, G., Piccinini, M., Secchi, N., Marongiu, D., Innocenzi, P., Irudayaraj, J. and Greppi, G. F. (2011), Innovative Composite Films of Chitosan, Methylcellulose, and Nanoparticles. Journal of Food Science, 76: N54–N60.

Date of this Version

9-2011

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