title: Production and properties of nanocellulose-reinforced methylcellulose-based biodegradable films.
abstract: Methylcellulose (MC)-based films were prepared by casting from its 1% aqueous solution containing 0.5% vegetable oil, 0.25% glycerol, and 0.025% Tween 80. Puncture strength (PS), puncture deformation (PD), viscoelasticity coefficient, and water vapor permeability (WVP) were found to be 147 N/mm, 3.46 mm, 41%, and 6.34 g.mm/m(2).day.kPa, respectively. Aqueous nanocellulose (NC) solution (0.1-1%) was incorporated into the MC-based formulation, and it was found that PS was improved (117%) and WVP was decreased (26%) significantly. Films containing 0.25% NC were found to be the optimum. Then films were exposed to gamma radiation (0.5-50 kGy), and it was revealed that mechanical properties of the films were slightly decreased after irradiation, whereas barrier properties were further improved with a decrease of WVP to 28.8% at 50 kGy. Molecular interactions due to incorporation of NC were supported by FTIR spectroscopy. Thermal properties of the NC-containing films were improved, confirmed by TGA and DSC. Crystalline peaks appeared due to NC addition, found by XRD. Micrographs of films containing NC were investigated by SEM.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory in Sciences Applied to Food, Canadian Irradiation Center (CIC), INRS-Institute Armand-Frappier, University of Quebec, 531 Boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Quebec H7V 1B7, Canada.
authors.forename: Ruhul A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salmieri
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dussault
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uribe-Calderon
authors.forename: Musa R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Safrany
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacroix
mesh_terms: D004548:Elasticity; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010539:Permeability
chemical_list: D008747:Methylcellulose