1. Novel composite films based on cellulose reinforced with chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol: Effect on mechanical properties and water vapour permeabilityPatricia Cazón, Manuel Vazquez, Gonzalo Velazquez, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Novel composite films were prepared by dissolving microcrystalline cellulose (3–5% w/w) in NaOH/urea solution, followed by coagulation in acetic acid solution. The regenerated cellulose films were immersed in chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol solutions at concentrations of 0–1% w/w and 0–4% w/w, respectively. Tensile strength, percentage of elongation at break, Young's modulus and water vapour permeability were measured to assess the effect of each compound on the mechanical and barrier properties. Polynomial models were obtained to evaluate the effect of the formulation on the measured properties. The microstructure was analysed by scanning electron microscopy. Results showed tensile strength values in the range 27.75–78.48 MPa, similar to usual synthetic polymer films. Percentage of elongation at break ranged from 0.98 to 12.82%, increasing when polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan increased. Young's modulus ranged from 2727.04 to 4217.25 MPa, showing higher values than pure chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol films. The highest value was reached combining cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol without chitosan. The water vapour permeability (1.78·10−11-4.24·10−11 g/m s Pa) showed 2 orders of magnitude higher than that of synthetic polymers, but lower than pure chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol films. Results showed that it is feasible to obtain cellulose-chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol composite films with improved mechanical properties and water vapour permeability. Keywords: Regenerated cellulose, Tensile strength, Elongation at break, Young's modulus, Water vapour permeability Published in RUNG: 14.12.2020; Views: 2974; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
2. Composite films of regenerate cellulose with chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol: Evaluation of water adsorption, mechanical and optical propertiesPatricia Cazón, Manuel Vazquez, Gonzalo Velazquez, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: The aimof this study was to develop composite films from cellulose, chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol to obtain environmentally friendly materials. Toughness, burst strength, distance to burst and water adsorption properties weremeasured and analysed as a function ofcellulose (3–5%), chitosan (0–1%) andpolyvinyl alcohol (0–4%) con- tents. Polynomial modelswere obtained. Light-barrier properties, transparency, morphology, structural and ther- mal analyses were assessed. Results showed that chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol enhanced the mechanical properties of cellulose-based films. Toughness values ranged from 0.47 to 8.01 MJ/m3, burst strength values ranged from 929 to 6291 g, distance to burst ranged from 1.25 to 2.52 mm and water adsorption values ranged from52.30 to 143.56%. Cellulose and chitosan improved the UV light protection effect ofthe films. However, PVA increased the transmittance meanwhile improved the film transparency. FT-IR and DSC showed an interaction between the components ofthe films. Results showed that it is feasible to obtain cellulose-chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol composite films with improvedmechanical properties, high capacity to adsorbwater, good barrier properties against UV radiations and adequate transparency value. These properties could be useful for potential packaging applications in the food industry or as a partial alternative to synthetic films Keywords: Regenerated cellulose, Puncture test, Water adsorption Published in RUNG: 14.12.2020; Views: 2705; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
3. Novel composite films from regenerated cellulose-glycerol-polyvinyl alcohol: Mechanical and barrier propertiesPatricia Cazón, Gonzalo Velazquez, Manuel Vazquez, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Cellulose is considered as an alternative for the demand of biocompatible and environmentally friendly food packaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate a composite film from regenerated cellulose combined with polyvinyl alcohol. Glycerol was used as a plasticizer. Mathematical models were used to describe the effect of the film structure on the mechanical (tensile strength, percentage of elongation at break) and barrier properties (water vapour permeability, light-barrier properties and transparency). The morphology, structural and thermal properties were evaluated by spectral analysis (FT-IR and UV-VIS-NIR), scanning electron microscopy and dif- ferential scanning calorimetry. Models predict cellulose-glycerol-polyvinyl alcohol films with tensile strength values from 25.9 to 369 MPa, similar to that of synthetic polymer films. The elongation at break of the developed films (0.89–18.7%) was lower than that of synthetic polymer films. The water vapour permeability obtained (2.32·10−11 - 3.01·10−11 g/s·m·Pa) was higher than that of petrochemical-based plastics. Cellulose films re- inforced with polyvinyl alcohol showed a smooth surface. Results showed that it is viable to accomplish com- posite films from cellulose-polyvinyl alcohol-glycerol with enhanced mechanical properties. The obtained films showed top values of transparency. The addition of glycerol resulted in films with a UV protective effect which could be important in food packaging to prevent lipid oxidative deterioration. Keywords: Regenerated cellulose, Tensile strength, Water vapor permeability, Anti-plasticizer, DSC, UV protection Published in RUNG: 14.12.2020; Views: 2987; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
4. Regenerated cellulose films combined with glycerol and polyvinyl alcohol: Effect of moisture content on the physical propertiesPatricia Cazón, Gonzalo Velazquez, Manuel Vazquez, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Regenerated cellulose-based films combined with glycerol and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) show interesting UV- light barrier properties, with potential application in food packaging to prevent oxidative deterioration. How- ever, these materials are sensitive to moisture, and their properties could be modified as a function of the relative humidity. Hence, the objective of the present work was to evaluate the changes in the main properties of re- generated cellulose-glycerol-PVOH films depending on the relative humidity. Using the GAB adsorption iso- therms, the moisture content was related with the water activity of the films at several relative humidity conditions. According to the obtained results, water molecules manifested a plasticizing effect modifying the mechanical, water vapour permeability and optical properties of the developed films. Tensile strength and Young’s modulus values ranged from 92.65 to 17.57 MPa and from 3639.09 to 227.89 MPa, respectively. Both of them decreased when the moisture content increased. The mechanical resistance to deformation of films enhanced at high moisture content, changing from 5.88 to 15.97% and from 0.59 to 2.97 mm in the tensile and puncture test, respectively. This effect was also observed for the burst strength. Water vapour permeability increased from 5.15⋅10?10 to 5.44⋅10?9 g/ms Pa when the moisture content increased, being more significative at higher values. No significant variations were observed in the UV-VIS transmittance at different moisture contents. The obtained results allow expanding the knowledge of the behavior of films based on regenerated cellulose. Keywords: Adsorption isotherms, Plasticization, Regenerated cellulose, Water vapour permeability, Moisture content Published in RUNG: 09.12.2020; Views: 3184; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
5. Regenerated cellulose films with chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol: Effect of the moisture content on the barrier, mechanical and optical propertiesPatricia Cazón, Manuel Vazquez, Gonzalo Velazquez, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of moisture content on the mechanical, barrier and optical properties of films obtained from regenerated cellulose with chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol equilibrated at several relative humidity conditions. The experimental moisture adsorption isotherms were fitted using the Guggenheim-Anderson-DeBoer model. The adsorption isotherm showed a typical type II sigmoidal shape. The highest moisture content (27.53 %) was obtained at a water activity of 0.9. The water vapour permeability values increased up to 6.34·10−11 g/ m s Pa as the moisture content of the films increased. Tensile strength, percentage of elongation, Young’s modulus, burst strength and distance to burst showed a significant plasticizing effect of the water molecules. Results suggest that interactions between film components and water molecules decrease the transmittance in the UV region and the transparency. Consequently, water molecules improve the UV-barrier properties of the films and increasing the opacity. Keywords: Adsorption isotherms, Plasticization, Regenerated cellulose, Chitosan, Polyvinyl alcohol, Water vapour permeability, Moisture content Published in RUNG: 09.12.2020; Views: 3413; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |