title: Effects of ionic crosslinking on physical and mechanical properties of alginate mulching films.
abstract: The effect of different ionic crosslinking parameters on the thickness, radiometric profiles, and mechanical and water vapor permeation (WVP) properties of alginate mulching films was investigated. Crosslinking by Mn(2+), Zn(2+), and Ca(2+) (but not Al(3+)) increased the tensile strength and light transmission and decreased the WVP of the films. Among the films, those crosslinked by Ca(2+) had the greatest tensile strength and exhibited the highest elongation and light transmission. Furthermore, the WVP and light transmission decreased gradually with increasing Ca(2+) concentration, and the maximum tensile strength and elongation were obtained for 2% (w/v) of Ca(2+). However, the WVP of the films increased gradually with increasing crosslinking time, and the elongation saturated after 2 min. These results suggest that alginate films crosslinked by 2% (w/v) calcium chloride for 2 min had the best overall performance and therefore have the potential to be used as entirely biodegradable agricultural mulching films.
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China.
authors.forename: Guo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liling
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Di
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China. Electronic address: xujia@ouc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiachao
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China.
authors.forename: Gao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China.
authors.forename: Fu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xiaoting
authors.affiliation: Qingdao Singtie Ocean Bio-technology Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong 266019, China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qing
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000737:chemistry*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D010539:Permeability; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D011874:Radiometry; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014835:Volatilization; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D014867:Water; D020723:Glucuronic Acid
keywords: Agricultural mulching film; Alginate; Biodegradation; Ionic crosslinking; Radiometric properties