Gas barrier enhancement of uncharged apolar polymeric films by self-assembling stratified nano-composite films.

The gas (O and CO) permeability of an innovative stratified PE-organoclay (LLDPE/OMMT) nano-enabled composite films was studied for the first time and related to the self-assembly process driven by hydrophobic interactions. An 84.4% and a 70% reduction ( a barrier improvement factor of about 6, sufficient for food packaging applications) were observed respectively in the oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability of the 5 bilayers coated film compared to the substrate, while only incorporating 2.

Development and characterisation of composite films made of kefiran and starch.

In this study, new edible composite films were prepared by blending kefiran with corn starch. Film-forming solutions of different ratios of kefiran to corn starch (100/0, 70/30, 50/50, 30/70) were cast at room temperature. The effects of starch addition on the resulting films' physical, mechanical and water-vapor permeability (WVP) properties were investigated.