Physical Properties Of Films Research Articles

Effect of amylose contents of starches on physical properties and biodegradability of starch/PVA-blended films

Recently, synthetic plastics are used widely in various fields, and with increased applications, disposal of waste plastics has become a serious problem. Therefore, development of novel plastics that are degradable by microorganisms in soil has recently been attracting much attention. In this study, starch/PVA-blended films were prepared from commercial starches with the different amylose contents, PVA, and additives by using a simple mixing process and casting method. Glycerol (GL), sorbitol (SO), tartaric acid (TA), and citric acid (CA) were used as additives. The physical properties such as tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (%E), degree of swelling (DS), and solubility (S) with amylose contents of starches were investigated. The amylose content of starches was analyzed by the colorimetric method. Thermal analysis of films was measured by using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Finally, biodegradability of the films was evaluated in a 6-month soil burial test. The examination of the physical properties of biodegradable films indicates that with the higher amylose contents of starch used in preparing the film, TS, and DS of films increased, whereas %E and S decreased. The additives containing both carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, i.e. TA and CA, improved the physical properties of films. A thermal analysis of films revealed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) rose because of the increased crystallization of films with the increasing the amylose contents. Also, films degraded rapidly at the beginning and slow degradation took place until the experiment was completed. The films showed 50–80% degradation.

Physical and thermo-mechanical properties of whey protein isolate films containing antimicrobials, and their effect against spoilage flora of fresh beef

The effectiveness of antimicrobial films against beef's spoilage flora during storage at 5 °C and the impact of the antimicrobial agents on the mechanical and physical properties of the films were examined. Antimicrobial films were prepared by incorporating different levels of sodium lactate (NaL) and ɛ-polylysine (ɛ-PL) into sorbitol-plasticized whey protein isolate (WPI) films. The moisture uptake behavior and the water vapor permeability (WVP) were affected only by the addition of NaL at all concentrations used since an increased water uptake and permeability were observed with the addition of NaL into the protein matrix. An increase of the glass transition temperature (5–15 °C) of the sorbitol region, as determined by Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA), was caused by the addition of ɛ-PL into the WPI specimens. Instead, incorporation of NaL into the protein matrix did not alter its thermo-mechanical behavior. The addition of NaL at concentrations of 1.0% and 1.5% w/w in the film-forming solution resulted in a decline of maximum tensile strength (σ max) and Young modulus (E). A decrease of E and σ max, accompanied with an increase in elongation at break (%EB), was also observed with increasing ɛ-PL concentration, at moisture contents higher that 10% (w/w). The antimicrobial activity of the composite WPI films was tested on fresh beef cut portions. The maximum specific growth rate (μ max) of total flora (total viable count, TVC) was significantly reduced with the use of antimicrobial films made from 0.75% w/w ɛ-PL in film-forming solutions ( p < 0.05), while the growth of Lactic Acid Bacteria was completely inhibited. Significant inhibition of growth of the total flora and pseudomonads was also observed with the use of films made with protein solutions containing 2.0% w/w NaL. These results pointed to the effectiveness of the antimicrobial whey protein films to extend the shelf life of fresh beef.

Correlations between structural, barrier, thermal and mechanical properties of plasticized gelatin films

Abstract The aims of this work were to develop gelatin films using glycerol as plasticizer (0–100% based on protein mass) and to establish relationships between glycerol content and structural, barrier, thermal and mechanical film properties. These correlations were established since WVP exhibited a minimum for films containing 20 g glycerol/100 g gelatin, while flexibility increased from 2.2% to 180.9% and T g shifted from 137.5 to 21.3 °C, for films without glycerol and plasticized films with 80 g glycerol/100 g gelatin, respectively. Furthermore, a satisfactory fit between T g experimental data and predicted values by Couchman and Karasz's equation was found, with glycerol ranging from 0 to 60 g/100 g gelatin. T g values correlated inversely with film moisture content, and both mechanical and thermal properties showed a strong dependence since elastic modulus and T g followed a similar trend. Films exhibited similar X-ray patterns regardless of the glycerol concentration, showing a displacement in the position of the peak located at around 2 θ = 8°, which shifted towards lower 2 θ values with glycerol content. The abovementioned correlations between film physical properties and glycerol content, would allow to select the optimum conditions to develop, process and manage gelatin films according to specific requirements. Industrial relevance The methodology used in this work is of considerable importance for the film development and could be used in industrial applications. The management of film formulations and the function that each component plays could allow to obtain tailormade films. A series of relationships between film properties based on gelatin was found, as well as between these properties and glycerol content of the films. An inflexion point in the behavior and microstructure of these materials was established due to glycerol concentration. The addition of higher quantities of glycerol than that corresponds to the abovementioned point, would not be recommendable since the properties are not modified and moreover, it is not profitable. These results would allow better management of film formulations and an appropriate selection of plasticizer concentration in accordance with the specific requirements of potential users.

Effect of moderate electric fields in the permeation properties of chitosan coatings

Edible films and coatings can provide additional protection for food, while being a fully biodegradable, environmentally friendly packaging system. Preliminary works have shown that the presence of a moderate electric field during the preparation of chitosan coating solutions may influence e.g. their transport properties. If such effect is confirmed, moderate electric fields could be used to tailor edible films and coatings for specific applications. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of field strength on functional properties of chitosan coatings (obtained from lobster from the Cuban coasts). Four different field strengths were tested (50, 100, 150, 200 V cm −1) and, for each electric field treatment, the water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide permeabilities of the films formed were determined, together with their color, opacity and solubility in water. The surface microstructure of the films was analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that ohmic heating had statistically significant effects on film's physical properties and structure. In general, the most pronounced effect of the field strength was observed for treatments made at 100 V cm −1 or higher, a positive correlation being found between the water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability coefficients and field strength. The AFM results show that the surface of chitosan films is much more uniform when an electric field is applied, which may be related with a more uniform gel structure leading to the differences observed in terms of transport properties.

Drop impact onto a liquid layer of finite thickness: Dynamics of the cavity evolution

In the present work experimental, numerical, and theoretical investigations of a normal drop impact onto a liquid film of finite thickness are presented. The dynamics of drop impact on liquid surfaces, the shape of the cavity, the formation and propagation of a capillary wave in the crater, and the residual film thickness on the rigid wall are determined and analyzed. The shape of the crater within the film and the uprising liquid sheet formed upon the impact are observed using a high-speed video system. The effects of various influencing parameters such as drop impact velocity, liquid film thickness and physical properties of the liquids, including viscosity and surface tension, on the time evolution of the crater formation are investigated. Complementary to experiments the direct numerical simulations of the phenomena are performed using an advanced free-surface capturing model based on a two-fluid formulation of the classical volume-of-fluid (VOF) model in the framework of the finite volume numerical method. In this model an additional convective term is introduced into the transport equation for phase fraction, contributing decisively to a sharper interface resolution. Furthermore, an analytical model for the penetration depth of the crater is developed accounting for the liquid inertia, viscosity, gravity, and surface tension. The model agrees well with the experiments at the early times of penetration far from the wall if the impact velocity is high. Finally, a scaling analysis of the residual film thickness on the wall is conducted demonstrating a good agreement with the numerical predictions.

Antimicrobial activity and physical properties of chitosan–tapioca starch based edible films and coatings

Abstract Antimicrobial activity of edible coating solutions based on chitosan and blends of chitosan–tapioca starch with or without potassium sorbate (KS) addition was studied. The agar well diffusion assay showed an antagonist effect on the efficiency of chitosan against Lactobacillus spp. when KS and/or tapioca starch were present. A salmon slice coating assay showed that the chitosan solution was the best coating since aerobic mesophilic and psychrophilic cell counts were reduced, pH and weight loss remained acceptable throughout refrigerated storage, extending global quality to 6-days. Chitosan–tapioca starch based films reduced Zygosaccharomyces bailii external spoilage in a semisolid product but were not effective against Lactobacillus spp. The results suggest that antibacterial action depended on the application technique, due to the fact that chitosan is more available in a coating solution than in a film matrix. Interactions between chitosan–starch and/or KS could affect film physical properties and the antimicrobial activity of chitosan. The addition of chitosan reduced water vapor permeability and solubility of starch films.

Preparation and characterization of scleroglucan drug delivery films: The effect of freeze‐thaw cycling

AbstractThis study examined the effect of the freeze‐thaw process on the physical properties of films prepared from scleroglucan (Scl) hydrogels, suitable for drug delivery applications. Films made from Scl, using glycerol as plasticizer, were prepared from hydrogels by two procedures: a room temperature drying (RTD) method and a freeze‐thaw cyclic process, before the application of RTD, which results in a reinforced physically cross‐linked network. Films were characterized by studies of water vapor transmission (WVT), swelling, tensile tests, ESEM microscopy, FTIR, and drug release measurements. These determinations showed significant differences between films obtained by both treatments. The films prepared through freeze‐thaw cycles showed an important increase of the tensile strength with respect to those corresponding to films only air dried and a decreasing swelling degree in direct relationship to the number of freeze‐thaw cycles. A model drug, Theophylline, was included in these biocompatible films for in vitro drug release measurements, using a flat Franz cell. The physical differences observed between Scl films prepared with both methods can be explained proposing that the number of crosslinking points by hydrogen bonding increase when increasing the number of freezing and thawing cycles used for film preparation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009

Biodegradable Films Based on Blends of Gelatin and Poly (Vinyl Alcohol): Effect of PVA Type or Concentration on Some Physical Properties of Films

The aim of this work was to develop biodegradable films based on blends of gelatin and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), without a plasticizer. Firstly, the effect of five types of PVA with different degree of hydrolysis (DH) on the physical properties of films elaborated with blends containing 23.1% PVA was studied. One PVA type was then chosen for the study of the effect of the PVA concentration on the mechanical properties, color, opacity, gloss, and water solubility of the films. The five types of PVA studied allowed for films with different characteristics, but with no direct relationship with the DH of the PVA. Therefore, the PVA Celvol®418 with a DH = 91.8% was chosen for the second part, because they produced films with greater tensile strength. The PVA concentration affected all studied properties of films. These results could be explained by the results of the DSC and FTIR analyses, which showed that some interactions between the gelatin and the PVA occurred depending on the PVA concentration, affecting the crystallinity of the films.

산소 분압 조절에 따른 ITO/PVDF 박막 물성 조절 연구

On the piezoelectric polymer, PVDF (poly vinylidene fluoride), the transparent conducting oxide (TCO) electrode material thin film was deposited by roll to roll sputtering process mentioned as a mass product-friendly process for display application. The deposition method for ITO Indium Tin Oxides) as our TCO was DC magnetron sputtering optimized for polymer substrate with the low process temperature. As a result, a high transparent and good conductive ITO/PVDF film was prepared. During the process, especially, the gas mixture ratio of Ar and Oxygen was concluded as an important factor for determining the film's physical properties. There were the optimum ranges for process conditions of mixture gas ratio for ITO/PVDF From these results, the doping mechanism between the oxygen atom and the metal element, Indium or Tin was highly influenced by oxygen partial pressure condition during the deposition process at ambient temperature, which gives the conductivity to oxide electrode, as generally accepted. With our studies, the process windows of TCO for display and other application can be expected.

Study of some physical properties of biodegradable films based on blends of gelatin and poly(vinyl alcohol) using a response-surface methodology

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the hydrolysis degree (HD) and the concentration ( C PVA) of two types of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and of the type (glycerol and sorbitol) and the concentration ( C P) of plasticizers on some physical properties of biodegradable films based on blends of gelatin and PVA using a response-surface methodology. The films were prepared with a film forming solutions (FFS) with 2 g of macromolecules (gelatin+PVA)/100 g de FFS. The responses analyzed were the mechanical properties, the solubility, the moisture content, the color difference and the opacity. The linear model was statistically significant and predictive for puncture force and deformation, elongation at break, solubility in water, moisture content and opacity. The C PVA affected strongly the elongation at break of the films. The interaction of the HD and the C P affected this property. Moreover, the puncture force was affected slightly by the C PVA. Concerning the solubility in water, the reduction of the HD increased it and this effect was greater for high C PVA values. In general, the most important effect observed in the physical properties of the films was that of the plasticizer type and concentration. The PVA hydrolysis degree and concentration have an important effect only for the elongation at break, puncture deformation and solubility in water.

Biodegradable Polymers Extracted from “Sargaço”: Film Properties and Application to Edible Coating

“Sargaço” is the name given to a mixture of dead seaweeds collected on Portuguese beaches. “Sargaço” is composed of algae containing biopolymers such as carrageenan, alginate and agar which are extensively used in food and pharmaceutical industries as gelling and stabilizing agents. The objective of this work was the biopolymers extraction from “Sargaço”, collected at Leça da Palmeira-Portugal, for production of biodegradable films and subsequent application in edible coatings for food. A mixture of biopolymers was hot-extracted from alkali treated “Sargaço”. Films were made from an optimized extract, using the knife coating technique. Films physical properties were characterized and results show that biodegradable films from “Sargaço” are more hygroscopic, less elastic, more deformable, and more permeable to water than films obtained from a commercial alginate and a domestic κ/ ι-hybrid carrageenan developed during previous studies. As such, this mixture of biopolymers is an interesting cheap alternative to produce biodegradable materials and a potential application to fresh fruit preservation has been tested.

Influence of Cooling Water Temperature on Properties of LLDPE Film in Double Bubble Tubular Film Process

The polymer melt of polyolefin is commonly extruded from a circular die in a double bubble tubular film (DBTF) process while cooled by chilled water. It is generally thought that restraining the crystallization progress by low temperature cooling water may make it possible to obtain good stretchability and good physical properties of film. Therefore the cooling water temperature is customarily set low in the manufacturing process of DBTF. This report deals with linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) film widely used as well as random copolypropylene (r-PP) film reported in the previous work /1/. From this study, the following results were obtained. Generally, the higher cooling water temperature leads to the higher film temperature in the stretching zone of DBTF process so that the stretching stress and shrinkage of film become lower. Therefore the cooling water temperature influences the quality of stretched film (SF). Those properties can be compensated by adjusting the preheating temperature, even if the cooling water temperature is high.

New Metalized Polyimide Films Structure and Physical Properties

The classical techniques of PI film metallization by either vapour deposition or electrochemical reduction of metals involve necessary technological steps such as polymer surface modification via plasma or ion beam, electron beam, or photolytic treatment, or surface sensitization by the conferment of catalytic properties, in order to enhance metal- PI adhesion, which is the main problem to be overcome in all processes. The technology presented differs by the use of another chemical approach yielding electro-conductive materials with high reflectivity, but without damaging the films in the process. The metalized polyimide films have been prepared by heterogeneous chemical modification of the polyimide surface and the suggested technology includes several chemical conversion steps (hydrolysis, chelating by metal salts and reduction) requiring no complicated procedures and proceeding under mild conditions, at room temperature and without aggressive agents. This new process allows the formulation of metal phase while both simplifying the technology and making use of commercial PI films, such as Kapton®HN and Upilex®S. In memoriam of Dr. Saule K. Kudaikulova

Effect of the presence of glycerol and Tween 20 on the chemical and physical properties of films based on chitosan with different degree of deacetylation

Chitosans with two different deacetylation degree (DD) (60.9% and 96%) were used to elaborate edible films. The influence of the degree of deacetylation and the presence of glycerol and Tween 20 in the formulation on the surface tension of the film forming solutions as well as on the chemical structure, optical and mechanical properties and water vapor permeability (WVP) of the resulting films were studied. IR spectra showed no significant differences on the chemical structures of chitosan of the different films. However, X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the use of chitosan with higher DD and the use of glycerol as additive resulted in higher crystallinity. Films made of chitosan with the lower DD (60.9%) were found to have higher tensile strength (TS) and elongation ( E) in a tensile test. Degree of deacetylation did not have any effect on WVP. The presence of glycerol resulted in less resistant, more elastic and more permeable films. The presence of Tween 20 improved the wettability of film solutions and affected significatively mechanical, optical and barrier properties of the films. A positive interaction between glycerol and Tween 20 was observed for WVP.

Spectroscopic studies on the effect of doping with CoBr 2 and MgCl 2 on some physical properties of polyvinylalcohol films

Filled and unfilled polyvinylalcohol (PVA) films were prepared by the casting technique. Films of equal amounts with various concentrations of two fillers (CoBr 2 and MgCl 2) were prepared. Spectroscopic, structural and some physical properties of these films were studied with different techniques. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) revealed that the syndiotacticity structure of the PVA samples causes dense molecular packing in the crystal and also stronger intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which are responsible for the disappearance of the molecular motion. X-ray diffraction (XRD) scans evidenced the presence of some semicrystalline structure of PVA films. The optical absorption spectra suggested the presence of an optical gap ( E g), which depends on filler concentration for all the filling levels. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) suggests that the segmental mobility of an amorphous pure PVA increases as a result of the addition of mixed fillers, becoming less-rigid segments. This indicates that the mixed fillers act as plasticizers.

Preparation of resistant starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend films with added plasticizer and crosslinking agents

AbstractWe report on the physical properties of films synthesized with native corn starch (NCS) and resistant starch (RS4) prepared with NCS. NCS and RS4/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend films were synthesized with a mixing process and casting method. Glycerol (GL) and citric acid (CA) were used as additives. Glutaraldehyde (GLU) was used as a crosslinking agent of the films. RS4 was synthesized with sodium trimetaphosphate and sodium tripolyphosphate as a crosslinker. Then, the RS4 thus synthesized was confirmed by the pancreatin–gravimetry method, swelling power, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction. The tensile strength, elongation, swelling behavior, and solubility of the films were measured. The results of the measurements indicated that the RS4‐added film was better than the NCS‐added film. In particular, the RS4/PVA blend film with CA as an additive showed physical properties superior to those of the other films. Also, the physical properties with GLU added as a crosslinking agent to the films were investigated. With increasing GLU contents, the tensile strength increased but the elongation, swelling behavior, and solubility values of the GL‐added and CA‐added films decreased. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007

Forouhi-Bloomer and Tauc-Lorentz optical dispersions applied using spectroscopic ellipsometry to plasma-deposited fluorocarbon films

Optical properties of the fluorocarbon (FC) films plasma deposited on Si substrates are evaluated in this work using multiple sample analysis (MSA)-based spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) with representing the film optical constants by the Forouhi-Bloomer (FB) and Tauc-Lorentz (TL) optical dispersions. This SE analysis supported also with other film investigations results in a two-layer optical model consisting of an interface assimilated to FC species-permeated Si layer beneath a surface smooth, homogeneous, and isotropic FC bulk film. Both dispersions yield a low-dielectric constant quality visible range refractive index of 1.39 and almost identical model layer thicknesses. Deposition-dominated linear film growth is thus asserted. Specifically, the FB dispersion better describes the region near absorption cutoff with taking up a lower optical band gap (OBG) than that of the TL dispersion, indicating thereby that particular FC film absorptions included in the FB dispersion are excluded in the other. Also, the FB index spectrum tends to peak towards a broad maximum in the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range, whereas this trend is absent in the TL index spectrum probably removed by the TL parameter cross correlations although reduced by MSA. Sample to sample analysis further shows that the TL parameter correlation is accentuated by the instrument-limited UV range. The FB parameters are much less affected by cross correlation such that even the sample to sample analysis may be readily used in conjuncture with the FB dispersion for thicker FC films above 150nm to monitor their index and OBG in tailoring desired film physical properties through deposition conditions.

Effect of arc suppression on the physical properties of low temperature dc magnetron sputtered tantalum thin films

Arcing is a common phenomenon in the sputtering process. Arcs and glow discharges emit electrons which may influence the physical properties of films. This article reports the properties of tantalum (Ta) thin films prepared by continuous dc magnetron sputtering in normal and arc-suppression modes. The substrate temperature was varied in the range of 300–673K. The tantalum films were ∼1.8μm thick and have good adherence to 316 stainless steel and single-crystal silicon substrates. The phase of the Ta thin film determines the electrical and tribological properties. The films deposited at 300K using both methods were crystallized in a tetragonal structure (β phase) with a smooth surface (grain size of ∼10nm) and exhibited an electrical resistivity of ∼194μΩcm and a hardness of ∼20GPa. When the substrate temperature was 473K and higher, the arc-suppression mode appears to influence the films to crystallize in the α phase with a grain size of ∼40nm, whereas the normal power mode gave mixed phases β and α beyond 473K, the arc-suppression mode yields larger grain sizes in the Ta thin films and the hardness decreases. These changes in the physical properties in arc-suppression mode are attributed to either the change in plasma characteristics or the energetic particle bombardment onto the substrate, or both.

Addition of glycerol plasticizer to seaweeds derived alginates: Influence of microstructure on chemical–physical properties

A study of the interaction among sodium alginates of different molecular compositions, water and glycerol was carried out, in order to weigh up the influence of different polymeric microstructures on the chemical–physical properties of films obtained by water soluble blends of sodium alginates and increasing amounts of glycerol. Thermal, mechanical and morphological analyses performed on the films confirmed the existence of specific interactions between sodium alginates and glycerol; it was as well demonstrated that only at specific mass ratio between the single polymers and glycerol it is possible to obtain the correct plasticizing effect induced by glycerol.

Physical Properties of Chemically Modified Starch(RS4)/PVA Blend Films—Part 1

In this paper, we report on the physical properties of films that have been synthesized by using native corn starch (NS) and chemically modified starch (RS4). NS or RS4/PVA blend films were synthesized by using the mixing process and the casting method. Glycerol (GL), sorbitol (SO), and citric acid (CA) were used as additives. The chemically modified starch (RS4) was synthesized by using sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) as a crosslinker. Then, the RS4 thus synthesized was confirmed by using the pancreatin-gravimetric method, swelling power and an X-ray diffractometer (XRD).