abstract
The present study investigated the fabrication and characterization of bio- based sustainable films composed of a terrestrial plant raw material, namely Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) cladodes powder (CP) and a marine seaweed deriva- tive, namely agar (A). The effect of glycerol concentration on the properties of the casted films was evaluated at four different contents, namely 30, 40, 50 and 60 wt%. The films present UV-blocking properties, as well as moderate mechanical performance, thermal stability, and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). The results point to an increase in thickness, elongation at break, moisture content, water solubility, and WVTR with increasing glycerol con- tent. On the contrary, Young's modulus, tensile strength, and water contact angle decreased as glycerol concentration increased. The best combination is obtained for the film with 30% glycerol, based on an intermediate compromise between physical, mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. All these out- comes express the potentiality of the powder obtained from grinding the OFI cladodes as raw material to produce low-cost films for the development of sustainable packaging materials.
authors
Nawal Makhloufi, Nadia Chougui, Farouk Rezgui, Elias Benramdane, Carmen S. R. Freire, Carla Vilela, Armando J. D. Silvestre
our authors
Armando Jorge Domingues Silvestre
Full professor
Carla Vilela
Auxiliary Researcher
Carmen Sofia da Rocha Freire Barros
Principal Researcheracknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020) financed by national funds through the Fundaç~ao para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/MCTES. FCT is also acknowledged for the research contract under Scientific Employment Stimulus to Carla Vilela (CEECIND/00263/2018). Nawal Makhloufi, Nadia Chougui, Farouk Rezgui, and Elias Benramdane thank the University of Bejaia and the Direction Généraledela Recherche Scientifique et Développement Technologique, Algeria, for their support.