Multifunctional chitosan nanocomposites: The effect of silver supported on montmorillonite platelets on barrier and mechanical properties

Abstract

Multifunctional bionanocomposites have been prepared by loading chitosan matrix with silver-montmorillonite antimicrobial nanoparticles obtained by replacing Na + ions of natural montmorillonite with silver ions followed by thermal reduction to metallic nanoparticles. This filler has been chosen for its twofold advantage to serve as silver supporting material and to confer new and better performance to the obtained material. It has been proved that the ultrasound-assisted procedure resulted in an efficient tool for the chitosan macromolecules to intercalate into the silicate galleries. The achievement of the intercalation as well as the interaction between chitosan and silver nanoparticles lead to an enhancement of barrier properties of the bionanocomposites and to an improvement of their mechanical strengths mainly due to a better load transfer between matrix and fillers.

Packaging, blessing in disguise. Review on its diverse contribution to food sustainability

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Review of Mechanical Properties, Migration, and Potential Applications in Active Food Packaging Systems Containing Nanoclays and Nanosilver

“…Chitosan films have shown an increase in tensile strength (TS) and a concurrent decrease in elongation at break (EB) by approximately 10% and 15% respectively with the inclusion of 5% (w/w) nanosilver (Rhim and others ). A recent study of multifunctional chitosan nanocomposite films containing silver supported MMT reports improved barrier and mechanical strength with the addition of the NPs (Lavorgna and others ). Other bio‐based films such as poly( l ‐lactide) have shown no changes in mechanical properties with the addition of up to 1% (w/w) nanosilver (Martinez‐Abad and others ).…”