Cross‐linked Chitosan/Corn Cob Biocomposite Films with Salicylaldehyde on Tensile, Thermal, and Biodegradable Properties: A Comparative Study

Abstract

AbstractThe focus of this research paper was to study the properties of uncrosslinked and cross‐linked chitosan (CS)/corn cob (CC) biocomposite films with salicylaldehyde (SAL). The uncrosslinked and cross‐linked CS/CC biocomposite films with SAL were prepared through solvent casting method. The SAL is used as cross‐linking agent in biocmposite films. The effect of CC content and SAL on the tensile, thermal, biodegradation properties, and morphological study of CS/CC biocomposite films are investigated. The tensile strength and elongation at break of CS/CC cob biocomposite films decreases, but modulus of elasticity increases with increasing CC content. However, the addition of SAL showed 59.47% and 25.18% of improvement in average tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of cross‐linked CS/CC biocomposite films, respectively, as compared to uncrosslinked biocomposite films. The cross‐linked biocomposite films exhibited higher thermal stability than uncrosslinked biocomposite films. Moreover, the cross‐linked biocomposite films with SAL cross‐linking agent showed lower weight loss in enzyme and soil biodegradation as compared to uncrosslinked biocomposite films. As a comparison, the cross‐linked biocomposite films with SAL showed the highest properties compared to others cross‐linking agent such as glutaraldehyde and epichlorohydrin as reported in our previous study.