title: Development and characterization of bilayer films of FucoPol and chitosan.
abstract: Bilayer films of FucoPol and chitosan were prepared and characterized in terms of optical, morphologic, hygroscopic, mechanical and barrier properties, to evaluate their potential application in food packaging. Bilayer films have shown dense and homogeneous layers, and presented enhanced properties when comparing to monolayer FucoPol films. Though, a high swelling degree in contact with liquid water (263.3%) and a high water vapour permeability (0.75×10(-11)mol/msPa), typical of polysaccharide films, was still observed. However, they presented a low permeability to O2 and CO2 (0.47×10(-16)molm/m(2)sPa and 5.8×10(-16)molm/m(2)sPa, respectively). Tensile tests revealed a flexible and resistant film with an elongation at break of 38% and an elastic modulus of 137MPa. The studied properties, in particular the excellent barrier to gases, impart these bilayer films potential to be used in packaging of low moisture content products, as well as in multilayered hydrophobic/hydrophilic/hydrophobic barriers for food products with a broader range of water content.
authors.affiliation: LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal. Electronic address: arf18913@campus.fct.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Ana R V
authors.initials: ARV
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal. Electronic address: c.torres@fct.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Cristiana A V
authors.initials: CAV
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal. Electronic address: a4406@fct.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Interfacultary Research Centre of Biomaterials (CEIB), University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium. Electronic address: csevrin@ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sevrin
authors.affiliation: Interfacultary Research Centre of Biomaterials (CEIB), University of Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium. Electronic address: c.grandfils@ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grandfils
authors.affiliation: UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal. Electronic address: amr@fct.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Maria A M
authors.initials: MAM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: vitoralves@isa.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Vítor D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal. Electronic address: imrc@fct.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Isabel M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Coelhoso
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000592:standards*; D010539:Permeability; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D014867:Water; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Bilayer films; Chitosan; Food packaging; FucoPol; Gas barrier; Polysaccharides