title: Effects of various plasticizers and nanoclays on the mechanical properties of red algae film.
abstract: To manufacture red algae (RA) film, we used various plasticizers such as glycerol, sorbitol, sucrose, fructose, and polypropylene glycol (PPG), and then determined the mechanical properties of the RA films. The tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (E), and water vapor permeability (WVP) of the films containing various plasticizers ranged between 0.43 to 9.10 MPa, 10.93% to 47.17%, and 1.28 to 1.42 ng m/m2sPa, respectively. RA films containing fructose as a plasticizer had the best mechanical properties of all the films evaluated. Incorporation of nanoclay (Cloisite Na+ and 30B) improved the mechanical properties of the films. RA film with 3% Cloisite Na+ had a TS of 10.89, while RA film with 30B had a TS of 10.85 MPa; these films also had better E and WVP values than the other RA films evaluated. These results suggest that RA/nanoclay composite films are suitable for use as food packaging materials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Edible RE/nanoclay composite films prepared in the present investigation can be applied in food packaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science & Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001546:Bentonite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D000077215:Clay; D018857:Food Packaging; D005632:Fructose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry; D010539:Permeability; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013227:Steam; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D010968:Plasticizers; D013227:Steam; D001546:Bentonite; D005632:Fructose; D000077215:Clay