Biodegradable biopolymer films
Provided is a biopolymer composite film that includes a polysaccharide matrix reinforced with soft dendritic colloids and methods for making. The method can include dissolving agarose in water to form a first mixture, mixing nanofibrillated chitosan in the agarose, sonicating or stirring the mixture to form a homogeneous second mixture, casting the second mixture, and gelling the second mixture to form a film. Also provided is a food or consumer product packaging film that includes the biopolymer composite film.
1 . A biopolymer composite film comprising a polysaccharide and soft dendritic colloids, wherein the soft dendritic colloids are about 5% w/w to 20% of the polysaccharide, and wherein the soft dendritic colloids are synthesized from chitosan to form nanofibrillated chitosan.
2 . The biopolymer composite film according to claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide is agarose.
3 . The biopolymer composite film according to claim 1 , further comprising a plasticizer.
4 . A biopolymer composite film comprising a polysaccharide and soft dendritic colloids;
wherein the soft dendritic colloids are synthesized from chitosan to form nanofibrillated chitosan;
wherein the polysaccharide is agarose;
wherein the nanofibrillated chitosan is about 15% w/w of the agarose; and
wherein the biopolymer composite film has a tensile strength of about 50 MPa.
5 . A consumer product packaging film comprising:
a biopolymer composite film comprising a polysaccharide and soft dendritic colloids, wherein the soft dendritic colloids are about 5% w/w to 20% of the polysaccharide, and wherein the soft dendritic colloids are synthesized from chitosan to form nanofibrillated chitosan.
6 . The consumer product packaging film of claim 5 , wherein the polysaccharide is agarose.
7 . The consumer product packaging film according to claim 5 , wherein the consumer product packaging film is optically transparent.
8 . The consumer product packaging film according to claim 5 , wherein the consumer product packaging film has a water contact angle of about 85° to 95°, and wherein the polysaccharide is agarose.
9 . The consumer product packaging film according to claim 5 , wherein the consumer product packaging film is a food packaging film.
10 . The consumer product packaging film according to claim 5 , wherein the consumer product packaging film is selected from a cosmetics packaging film and a household products packaging film.
11 . The consumer product packaging film according to claim 5 , wherein the consumer product packaging film is environmentally benign.
12 . The consumer product packaging film according to claim 6 , wherein the nanofibrillated chitosan is about 15% w/w of the agarose, and wherein the film has a tensile strength of about 50 MPa.