Physical, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer/chitosan/nano-ZnO (ECNZn) nanocomposite films incorporating glycerol plasticizer

In this study the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) and chitosan polymers mixture film containing nano zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) and glycerol was developed for food packaging. Physical, mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the film matrix were evaluated at different ratios of the biodegradable polymers (0: 100, 25: 75, 50: 50, 75: 25, 100: 0) which contain nano-ZnO and incorporate with glycerol as the plasticizer. Film topography and cross-sections were evaluated by FE-SEM and AFM examinations. To assess characterization of the nanocomposites structure and network chemistry, FTIR spectroscopy was considered. The results indicate that EVOH improved barrier properties, transparency and mechanical properties. The antimicrobial properties were improved by adding chitosan. With adding glycerol decreases in barrier properties and increases in percentage of elongation at break (epsilon(b)) were observed. Adding nano-ZnO improved barrier, mechanical and antimicrobial properties and significantly reduced the adverse effects of glycerol. Taken together, these data reveal that the new nanocomposite provides the better properties and the less adverse effects of plasticizer on matrix film.