Use of natural polyelectrolyte complexes on the improvement of high quality packages properties and for the production of self-standing films
Research summary
With the aim of achieving a more sustainable world, a number of efforts are currently oriented to replace synthetic polymer with the use of natural analogues, in order to obtain different materials. The objective of this project is to study in detail the characteristics of complexes formed by two different natural polyelectrolytes, such as chitosan and xylan. The research plan includes the study of the effect of the order of polyelectrolyte addition, relation of charge between them as well as the impact of the ionic strength and pH of the media in the external charge of the resulting complex. By reaching a better understanding of the condition of formation of these complexes, it is expected to widen the possibility of use of recycled, unbleached fibres in applications such as the manufacture of high quality packaging papers, and on the other hand, to manufacture films with excellent mechanical properties, of potential use in food packaging.
Description
The different complexes will be adsorbed onto recycled unbleached cellulosic fibres and onto model surface, such as nanofibrillated cellulose obtained from the same raw material. This last adsorption will be monitored using Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). It is expected to establish a correlation between the conditions under which the complexes were adsorbed, and the mechanical properties conferred to the paper, such as tensile and compression strengths. On the other hand, in the case of films, the effects of the addition of plasticizer as well as the addition of nanofibrillated cellulose, and also the effects of drying temperature on properties such as tensile strength, Young’s modulus, elongation, water and oxygen barrier properties, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) will be studied.
More information
Research info
Research title
Use of natural polyelectrolyte complexes on the improvement of high quality packages properties and for the production of self-standing films
Research timeline
1.7.2014 - 1.6.2017
Keywords
chitosan packaging polyelectrolyte complexes self-standing films unbleached cellulosic fibers xylan
Region
Latin America
Countries
Argentina, Finland
Institution
Universidad Nacional del Litoral
ITC - School of Chemical Engineering
Santa Fe, Argentina
Head of research
Paulina Mocchiutti
Research team
Maria Cristina Inalbon, Maria Veronica Galván, Maria Soledad Peresin, Miguel A. Zanuttini, Miguel A. Citroni
Partners
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Contact information
Maria Soledad Peresin
0407207047
soledad.peresin@vtt.fi
Record last updated
2.2.2015