title: Mechanical and structural characterization of whey protein concentrate/montmorillonite/lycopene films.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The production/characterization of nanocomposites based on whey protein concentrate (WPC) and montmorillonite (MMT) with lycopene as functional substance is presented and their potential use as alternative biomaterials in foodstuff applications is discussed. A full factorial design with varying levels of MMT (0 and 20 g kg-1) and lycopene (0, 60 and 120 g kg-1) was used. The mechanical properties (tensile and puncture tests), thermal stability, Fourier transform infrared vibrational spectra and film morphology of the resulting materials were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lycopene and MMT nanoparticles could be successfully included in WPC films using the casting/evaporation method. The films were flexible and homogeneous and a uniform dispersion of the components was achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inclusion of 20 g kg-1of MMT in the polymeric matrix improved both mechanical and thermal properties. Lycopene at the tested concentrations, besides its red coloring ability, did not promote any detectable interference in the structural or physical properties. These findings are important in devising applications and open a new perspective on the use of these materials in bioactive packaging processing. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, (MG), Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafaela C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8795-6109
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, (MG), Brazil.
authors.forename: João de Deus S
authors.initials: JDS
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Instrumentação (CNPDIA), São Carlos, (SP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Odílio Bg
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, (MG), Brazil.
authors.forename: Soraia V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: D001546:Bentonite / Q000737:chemistry*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry*; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000077276:Lycopene; D010539:Permeability; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D000067816:Whey Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D001546:Bentonite; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene
keywords: biopolymeric packaging; film morphology; mechanical properties; nanocomposite; thermal stability