Fabrication and characteristics of poly (vinyl alcohol)-starch-cellulosic material based biodegradable composite film for packaging application

Abstract

Abstract Now-a-days, non-biodegradable petrochemical-based plastic materials has been used widely in the packaging industries and created a major problem of waste disposal after their use. Therefore, the research is more focused towards utilization of natural based polymer for development of biodegradable packaging films. The present study showed the potential of PVA (poly vinyl alcohol)/starch and cellulosic material barley husk (BH) based composite films for packaging applications. The grafting of BH was performed with palmitic acid in the presence of redox initiators were incorporated into urea formaldehyde cross-linked PVA/starch matrix. as cross linker. Various characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal analysis techniques were used to study the physical, chemical and morphological properties of the composite films. Evaluation of different physico-chemical properties such as mechanical properties, water resistance properties, barrier properties and biodegradability was also performed. Mechanical properties of the composite films improved with addition of the grafted BH into the cross-linked PVA/starch matrix. Water resistance properties of the PVA/starch composite films reinforced with grafted BH evaluated in terms of water uptake (%) and water contact angle were higher as compared to the PVA film and PVA/starch composite film reinforced with BH. Barrier properties of the composite films improved after addition of barley husk and grafted barley husk into the matrix. Incorporation of barley husk into the polymer matrix improved the biodegradation rate of the PVA/starch composite films. PVA/starch composite film reinforced with grafted barley husk has potential application in packaging industries as a replacement for synthetic non degradable polymer based films.