Starch-Chitosan Blend Films Prepared by Glutaraldehyde Cross-linking

The present study evaluated the properties of the polymeric blend films obtained from chitosan and corn starch using glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent and glycerol as plasticizer by the casting/solvent evaporation method. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses confirmed that the groups interactions of starch and chitosan in starch-chitosan blend films were present especially when using glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies revealed an endothermic peak of starch film at 98 degrees C corresponding to water evaporation. DSC also indicated that the endothermic peak of blend films moved to higher temperature with adding chitosan and glutaraldehyde compared with native corn starch film. The tensile strength of the blend films increased with the increasing content of glutaraldehyde. The starch-chitosan blend films exhibited the highest tensile strength of 11 MPa when the content of starch was 9% (w/v in water), glutaraldehyde content was 1.0 mL, chitosan ratio is 0.35 (W-chitosan/W-starch), glycerol ratio was 0.35 ((Wglycerol)/W-starch).