Formulation and characterization of starch based film coating and fabrication of coating machine for paper boards

Abstract

newline In recent times, Biodegradable films and coatings have been extensively researched upon as alternatives for non-degradable fossil fuel-based synthetic packaging materials. The work presented here in the thesis aims to formulate biodegradable packaging films and coatings from starch and study their applications for short-term, single use wrap and as coating on paper-based packaging material. Filmogenic solutions were formulated using three different kinds of polysaccharides, namely Carboxymethyl Cellulose, iota-Carrageenan and Jackfruit seed to prepare the first-generation ternary blend for films (CCS) in the presence of glycerol as plasticizer. This ternary film was then surface-treated to produce a series of second-generation films by dipping in different concentrations of CaCl2 solution (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0M). As the concentration of CaCl2 increased, the water uptake capacity reduced, indicating an improvement in the water resistivity of films. Among these, the film treated with 0.6M of CaCl2 (CCST4) exhibited 132% increase in tensile strength, 49% decrease in water uptake capacity and 12% increase in oil permeability. In the next stage, a 2% CaCl2 solution was added in different proportions, namely, 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mL per 100 mL of ternary starch blends (CCS) to prepare a third generation, CaCl2 reinforced ternary starch blend film (CCSR-A, B, C, D and E). Among these films, the film CCSR-B prepared using 5mL of 2% CaCl2 solution had good filmogenic properties and 49% increase in tensile strength, than the first generation ternary blend film (CCS). However, it exhibited poor anti-microbial activity against gram negative E. coli. Thus CCSR-B blend was reinforced with 0.1g of ZnO to produce the fourth generation, double reinforced, antimicrobial film newline(CCSR-BZ). The resultant film exhibited better anti-microbial property towards Gram - negative bacteria with a clear zone. The films also exhibited 27% increase in tensile strength, 26 % increase in EAB and 43% decrease in water uptake capacity th