Water Vapor Transmission Rates and Sorption Behavior of Chitosan Films

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study measured the water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) and moisture sorption of chitosan films over a range of water vapor pressures at 25 °C. Films of a constant thickness were made using chitosan with 3 levels of deacetylation. Films were tested at test relative humidity (RH) difference between RH values of 84%, 75%, 69%, 53%, 43%, 33%, 23%, 11%, and 0 at 25 °C using ASTM F1249‐90 or ASTM E 96‐80. The equilibrium moisture content in the films ranged from 3.7% to 31.8% (dry basis) corresponding to 11% to 84% RH. WVTRs of films increased with increase in water vapor pressure. The mean WVTR ranged from 6.7 to 1146 (g/m2/d) over the range of water vapor pressure from 2.68 (11% RH) to 19.9 mmHg (84% RH). The percentage of deacetylation of chitosan films and the viscosity of the cast solution did not have an effect on the WVTR properties of chitosan films.