Preparation of a novel biodegradable packaging film based on corn starch-chitosan and poloxamers

Abstract

Starch is an excellent alternative to produce packaging materials, however, due to its high hydrophilicity, it is necessary to mix it with other polymers. Chitosan (CTS) is a polymer extracted from shrimp shells and crabs, which can be used to make biodegradable materials. The principal component of biodegradable was corn starch and chitosan, the copolymer pluronic F127 was incorporated in several concentrations and its effect on the water vapor barrier, morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties of the films was evaluated, because its incorporation in the formulation of biodegradable materials could increase its hydrophobicity. The surface of starch-chitosan composite films obtained was more homogeneous and smoother with the increase in the content of pluronic F127. The %S and WVP of the starch-chitosan films decreased from 42 to 3%, and 21 × 10^-11 to 3 × 10^-14 g. m^-1s^-1 Pa^-1, respectively, with the incorporation of pluronic from 3%, which makes these materials a good alternative for product packaging.

Keywords: Biodegradable film; Chitosan; Composite film; Starch; Water solubility; Water vapor permeability.