Comparative Evaluation of Physical Properties of Edible Chitosan Films Prepared by Different Drying Methods

Edible films are alternative packaging, which have recently received much attention due mainly to environmental reasons. Edible films may be formed from edible biomaterials such as polysaccharides, proteins, or lipids. Among these biopolymers, chitosan is of interest because it has a good film-forming property and is biodegradable, biocompatible, and nontoxic. Several techniques have been used to prepare edible chitosan films with various degrees of success. However, it is always interesting to find an alternative technique to produce films of superior quality at shorter processing (drying) time. In this study, the influences of different drying methods and conditions on the drying kinetics and various properties of chitosan films were investigated. Drying at control conditions (ambient air drying and hot air drying at 40°C) as well as vacuum drying and low-pressure superheated steam drying (LPSSD) at an absolute pressure of 10 kPa were carried out at different drying temperatures (70, 80, and 90°C). The properties of chitosan films, in terms of color, tensile strength, percent elongation, water vapor permeability (WVP), glass transition temperature (T_g), and crystallinity, were also determined. Based on the results of both the drying behavior and film properties, LPSSD at 70°C was proposed as the most favorable conditions for drying chitosan films.     

Influence of Drying Techniques on the Characteristics of Chitosan and the Quality of Biopolymer Films

In this work, spouted bed and tray-drying techniques were employed at different drying air temperatures to produce dried chitosan, and the chitosan powder was used to produce biofilms. The products obtained from each drying technique were compared in relation to quality aspects (molecular weight, lightness, and hue angle). The results found for chitosan in spouted bed drying (90°C) showed lower alteration and best quality aspects in relation to the chitosan powder. However, in tray drying under the best condition (60°C) the chitosan molecular weight increased about 50% in relation to the initial value and browning was observed. The biofilms produced from chitosan dried in the spouted bed showed the best mechanical properties (tensile strength of 42 MPa and elongation of 29%) and lower water vapor permeability (3.95 g mm m^?2 kPa^?1 day^?1).     

Crystallinity Degree of Polyethylene Tubular Blown Films Evaluated by X-ray Diffraction and Density Methods: An Evaluation of the Interfacial Contribution

An experimental study is reported of the relationship between the degree of crystallinity of polyethylene tubular blown films obtained from x-ray diffraction and from density. The comparison shows that there are significant differences between the two techniques, and the values for percentage of crystallinity as determined by the density method are higher than those determined by the x-ray diffraction method. The main reason for these differences is the inclusion of the interfacial contribution to the measured density. The possible application of the analysis of the equation obtained for density crystallinity versus x-ray crystallinity in the evaluation of amorphous and crystalline domains in the interfacial region is discussed.     

Barrier and mechanical properties of carrot puree films

The edible films based on carrot puree, carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC), corn starch and gelatin were developed. Glycerol was added as plasticizer. Hydrocolloids and plasticizer content effects on film properties were investigated. CMC and gelatin contents did not significantly affect film %elongation (%E), oxygen permeability (OP) and water vapor permeability (WVP) but significantly enhanced film tensile strength (TS). Corn starch content significantly enhanced film TS and WVP but not significantly affected film %E and OP. Increasing glycerol content decreased film TS and increased film %E (p < 0.05), OP and WVP. Moreover, the L, a and b values of carrot films increased with the increase of the glycerol and decreased with the increase of the corn starch.     

海泡石增强壳聚糖/玉米醇溶蛋白复合膜的制备及性能

采用流延成膜法制备了不同海泡石(SP)质量分数的壳聚糖(CS)/玉米蛋白(ZN)复合膜。研究了SP质量分数对CS/ZN复合膜机械性能和断面形貌的影响,分析了SP对CS/ZN复合膜的增强机理。扫描电子显微镜结果表明,SP粒子在复合膜中分散较好,CS与ZN之间有较好的相容性。随着SP质量分数增加,SP/CS/ZN膜拉伸强度先增加后减小,当SP质量分数为2%时,其拉伸强度达到最大值21.1 MPa,比纯CS/ZN提高了8.1%;而断裂伸长率随着SP质量分数先增加后降低,从15.3%下降为7.5%;同时复合膜的耐水性能上升,复合膜的吸水率随着SP质量分数增加先减小后增加,在8%时达到最小值。SP的引入导致复合膜的透光性能下降,SP质量分数为6%时在波长800 nm处光透过率下降约20%。     

Low temperature synthesis of nano Ti(C,N) by novel mechanical and thermal activation method

This paper presents a novel mechanical and thermal activation assisted carbothermal reduction (CR) method for synthesising Ti(C,N) powder at lower temperatures. Nano Ti(C,N) powder with approximately 30?nm grain size was synthesised by mixing powders of titanium, anatase, and carbon black. The starting powders were first milled for 10 to 40?h under N₂/Ar atmosphere, and then vacuum heat treated for 1?h at 800 to 1050°C. Consequently, nano Ti(C,N) powder with approximately 30?nm grain size was synthesised. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that Ti(C,N) is partially formed during mechanical milling, and the remaining reactants react completely below 1050°C. However, when the unmilled starting powders are heat treated at 1050°C under N₂ for 1?h, large amounts of reactants remain. Thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry analysis shows that the CR reaction of activated TiO₂ occurs at a lower temperature under N₂ than under Ar or vacuum.     

Effect of Particle Size of Mica on the Properties of Poly[Ether Ether Ketone] Composites

A study on high performance PEEK composites prepared by incorporating with three different particle sizes of mica was fabricated by compression molding. The effects of particle size of mica on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties were studied. The incorporation of mica increased tensile modulus. The percentage crystallinity of PEEK mica composites was studied by using modulated DSC. The storage modulus changed significantly with the variation of the mica particle size and content in the PEEK matrix. Composite containing 20 wt% mica exhibited about a 79% increase in the storage modulus at 50°C and about a 68% increase at 250°C.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes-polypropylene composites prepared by melt processing

In this work well uniform dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was achieved by shear mixing. The results obtained from the differential scanning calorimetry curves indicate that the addition of low SWNT amounts (less than 1 wt%) led to an increase in the rate of polymer crystallization with no substantial changes in the crystalline structure, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The tensile mechanical properties showed that Young’s modulus and tensile strength considerably increase in the presence of nanotubes, with a maximum for 0.75 wt%. The reinforcing effect of SWNTs was also confirmed by dynamic mechanical analysis where, by adding nanotubes, a noticeable increase in the storage modulus was detected. The beneficial effects of SWNT incorporation was underlined comparing the results obtained with those of carbon black used as a filler.     

Fibrils of γ-Oryzanol + β-Sitosterol in Edible Oil Organogels

Mixtures of γ-oryzanol and β-sitosterol are able to form transparent organogels in edible oils. Small-angle X-ray scattering was used to elucidate the microstructure of the building blocks of these organogels in sunflower oil. It was found that the plant sterol(ester)s form hollow tubes with a diameter of 7.2 ± 0.1 nm. Tubes prepared with γ-oryzanol-rich structurant show the least bundle aggregation, and can be supercooled during formation most easily. The tubes melt at elevated temperatures, in agreement with the loss of structuring capacity as observed in earlier experiments.     

Comparative Oxidative Stability of Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters by Accelerated Methods

Several fatty acid alkyl esters were subjected to accelerated methods of oxidation, including EN 14112 (Rancimat method) and pressurized differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC). Structural trends elucidated from both methods that improved oxidative stability included decreasing the number of double bonds, introduction of trans as opposed to cis unsaturation, location of unsaturation closer to the ester head group, and elimination of hydroxyl groups. Also noticed with EN 14112 was an improvement in oxidative stability when a larger ester head group was utilized. Methyl esters that contained ten or less carbons in the fatty acid backbone were unacceptable for analysis at 110 °C (EN 14112) due to excessive sample evaporation. With respect to PDSC, a correlation was noticed in which the oxidation onset temperature (OT) of saturated fatty esters increased with decreasing molecular weight (R ² 0.7328). In the case of the monounsaturates, a very strong inverse correlation was detected between molecular weight and OT (R ² 0.9988), which was in agreement with EN 14112. Lastly, a strong direct correlation (R ² 0.8759) was elucidated between OT and oil stability index (OSI, EN 14112, 80 °C). The correlation was not as strong (R ² 0.5852) between OSI obtained at 110 °C and OT. Disclaimer: Product names are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name by USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable.     

Magnetic and Cytotoxicity Properties of La1−x Sr x MnO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) Nanoparticles Prepared by a Simple Thermal Hydro-Decomposition

This study reports the magnetic and cytotoxicity properties of magnetic nanoparticles of La_1−x Sr _x MnO₃ (LSMO) with x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 by a simple thermal decomposition method by using acetate salts of La, Sr, and Mn as starting materials in aqueous solution. To obtain the LSMO nanoparticles, thermal decomposition of the precursor was carried out at the temperatures of 600, 700, 800, and 900 °C for 6 h. The synthesized LSMO nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TEM, and SEM. Structural characterization shows that the prepared particles consist of two phases of LaMnO₃ (LMO) and LSMO with crystallite sizes ranging from 20 nm to 87 nm. All the prepared samples have a perovskite structure with transformation from cubic to rhombohedral at thermal decomposition temperature higher than 900 °C in LSMO samples of x ≤ 0.3. Basic magnetic characteristics such as saturated magnetization (M _S) and coercive field (H _C) were evaluated by vibrating sample magnetometry at room temperature (20 °C). The samples show paramagnetic behavior for all the samples with x = 0 or LMO, and a superparamagnetic behavior for the other samples having M _S values of ~20–47 emu/g and the H _C values of ~10–40 Oe, depending on the crystallite size and thermal decomposition temperature. Cytotoxicity of the synthesized LSMO nanoparticles was also evaluated with NIH 3T3 cells and the result shows that the synthesized nanoparticles were not toxic to the cells as determined from cell viability in response to the liquid extract of LSMO nanoparticles.     

Differences in Oxidative Stability,Sensory Properties,and Volatile Compounds of Pepper Aromatized Sunflower Oils Prepared by Different Methods during Accelerated Storage

The study aims to compare the differences in the oxidative stability, sensory properties, and volatile compounds during accelerated storage of pepper aromatized sunflower oil (PASO) samples prepared by maceration method (PASO-M), co-pressing method (PASO-C), and direct addition method (PASO-A), respectively. The results exhibit that their oxidative stability is in the relative order: PASO-A > PASO-C > PASO-M. Meanwhile, the PASO-A sample is the most preferable aromatized sunflower oil by consumers according to sensory analysis. In addition, a total of 83 volatile compounds are identified in the three PASO samples during the storage, and the principal component analysis (PCA) shows that their volatile compounds are quite different at the initial stage of the storage. Still, they are similar among each other from the middle of storage period. As consequence, the aromatized sunflower oil sample prepared by the direct-addition method during the storage possesses better oxidative stability and sensory attributes, and there is not much difference among their volatile compounds, indicating that the aromatized sunflower oil prepared by direct-addition method can be developed as promising aromatized sunflower oil. Practical applications: This study shows that aromatization increases oxidative stability and sensory properties of sunflower oil. By this way some sunflower oils with special sensory properties are obtained: special smell and taste, special color, etc. These peppers aromatized sunflower oils can be used to increase taste and smell in some dishes. For example, they can be used in some salads and some roast meats to give more taste and color.     

Mechanical and dielectric properties of porous magnesium aluminate (MgAl2O4) spinel ceramics fabricated by direct foaming-gelcasting

Porous ceramic materials have been broadly applied in various fields due to their multifunctional properties. Optimization of their microstructural characteristics, such as pore morphology, total porosity, and pore size distribution, which determine various properties of the final products, is crucial to improve their performances and thus extend their applications. In this study, single-phase porous MgAl₂O₄ materials were fabricated by direct foaming–gelcasting. With an increase in the foam volume from 260 to 350 mL, the total porosity and pore size of the porous ceramic increased, and its microstructure varied from mostly closed cells to open cells containing interconnected large pores (40–155 μm) and small circular windows (10–40 μm) in the ceramic skeleton. The total porosity could be tailored from 84.91% to 76.08% by modulating the sintering temperature and foam volume and the corresponding compressive strengths were in the range of 2.8–15.0 MPa. The compressive strength exhibited a power-law relationship with the relative density with indices of approximately 3.409 and 3.439, respectively. Porous MgAl₂O₄ ceramics exhibited low dielectric constants in the range of 1.618–1.910 at room temperature, which are well matched with theoretical calculations on account of a modified Bruggeman model. The porous MgAl₂O₄ ceramics with good mechanical and dielectric properties controlled easily by various sintering temperatures and foam volumes are promising for practical applications.