19 - The influence of nanofillers on physical–chemical properties of polysaccharide-based film intended for food packaging

Abstract

Food packaging is an important part of the food industry wherein preservation and protection of all types of foods and their raw materials presents an imperative. Depending on water activity and temperature of storage, food material can be easily perishable and therefore needs appropriate protection against external influences in order to preserve it longer. Petrochemical based materials such as polyolefins, polyesters, and polyamides have been increasingly used as packaging materials, because of their availability in large quantities at low cost and satisfying functional characteristics. Despite all the advantages, these materials are totally nonbiodegradable and cause the problems in waste disposal. Therefore, the demands of the consumers have been shifted to ecofriendly biodegradable and biobased materials, obtained from renewable resources. Nonetheless, the usage of biopolymers has been limited due to the poor mechanical and barrier properties. The addition of nanofillers significantly improves the barrier, mechanical, and thermal properties of biobased materials, as well as petroleum-based materials. This chapter provides a review of implementation potentials and development of the nanocomposites materials based on polysaccharides (thermoplastic starch, chitosan, cellulose, alginate, pectin) in combination with various nanofillers with emphasis on mechanical, thermochemical, and barrier properties.