title: A novel solution blending method for using olive oil and corn oil as plasticizers in chitosan based organoclay nanocomposites.
abstract: In the current study a novel reflux-solution blending method is being followed with the introduction of small ethanol volumes into chitosan acetic acid aquatic solution in order to incorporate olive oil and corn oil in chitosan and its organoclay nanocomposites. Ethanol enables the direct interaction of chitosan with oils and results in effective plasticization of chitosan/oil films with remarkable increase of the strain at break from 8% of chitosan and chitosan/oil aquatic samples to app. 22% for chitosan/oil ethanol samples. Compared with olive oil, corn oil is less effective as plasticizer (max strain at break app. 14%). Addition of oils is beneficial for water sorption, water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability response of the obtained films. Barrier properties are further improved after the use of OrgMMT, however OrgMMT results in significant reduction of strain at break of all oil containing samples (app. 8%) acting as stress concentrator upon deformation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Technology, Department of Business Administration of Food and Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, Agrinio 30100, Greece. Electronic address: agiannakas@upatras.gr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannakas
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Ioannina 45500, Greece. Electronic address: athanasaki92@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patsaoura
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Ioannina 45500, Greece. Electronic address: nbarkoul@cc.uoi.gr.
authors.forename: N-M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Barkoula
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Technology, Department of Business Administration of Food and Agricultural Enterprises, University of Patras, Agrinio 30100, Greece. Electronic address: alantavo@upatras.gr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ladavos
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003314:Corn Oil; D053761:Nanocomposites; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000069463:Olive Oil; D010968:Plasticizers; D003314:Corn Oil; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Acetic Acid (PubChem CID: 176); Chitosan; Chitosan (PubChem CID: 3086191); Corn oil; Ethanol (PubChem CID: 702); Olive oil; Org-montmorillonite; Plasticization