Fabrication and mechanical characterization of biodegradable and synthetic polymeric films: Effects of gamma radiation

Nousin Akter (1) , Ruhul A. Khana (2) , Stephane Salmieri (2) , Nusrat Sharmin (2) , Dominic Dussault (2) , Monique Lacroix (2)

1 University of Dhaka
2 CIC - Canadian Irradiation Center

Chitosan (1 wt%, in 2% aqueous acetic acid solution) and starch (1 wt%, in deionised water) were dissolved and mixed in different proportions (20-80 wt% chitosan) then films were prepared by casting. Tensile strength and elongation at break of the 50% chitosan containing starch-based films were found to be 47 MPa and 16%, respectively. It was revealed that with the increase of chitosan in starch, the values of TS improved significantly. Monomer, 2-butane diol-diacrylate (BDDA) was added into the film forming solutions (50% starch-based), then casted films. The BDDA containing films were irradiated under gamma radiation (5-25 kGy) and it was found that strength of the films improved significantly. On the other hand, synthetic petroleum-based polymeric films (polycaprolactone, polyethylene and polypropylene) were prepared by compression moulding. Mechanical and barrier properties of the films were evaluated. The gamma irradiated (25 kGy) films showed higher strength and better barrier properties.

Keywords: Starch; Chitosan; Biodegradable films; Synthetic polymers; Packaging materials

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Human health and pathology; Infectious diseases

Nousin Akter, Ruhul A. Khana, Stephane Salmieri, Nusrat Sharmin, Dominic Dussault, et al.. Fabrication and mechanical characterization of biodegradable and synthetic polymeric films: Effects of gamma radiation. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 2012, 81 (8), pp.995-998. ⟨10.1016/j.radphyschem.2011.10.029⟩. ⟨pasteur-00819371⟩