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Ecofriendly films based on low-substituted starch acetate enhanced by polyvinyl alcohol additions

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Abstract

The search for environmentally friendly materials that can replace synthetic plastics is still relevant. In this work, we have for the first time conducted a detailed study of films based on industrial-scale biodegradable polymers/starch acetate (AcSt) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The PVA content in the film compositions ranged from 0 to 30% (by weight based on the total polymer weight). The film structures were evaluated by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, and SEM methods. We also investigated the properties important for practical use of polymer films: the swelling degree, water vapor permeability, oil permeability, tensile strength, elongation-at-break, biodegradability, and phytotoxicity. The results showed that AcSt and PVA display sufficiently good compatibility in the blends and form continuous and smooth films. The increased PVA content in the compositions improved the mechanical characteristics of the films. The PVA additions (15–30% by weight based on the total polymer weight) reduced oil permeability of the samples. All the obtained films met the biodegradability criteria according to the International Standard ISO 846:1997-Plastics-Evaluation of the action of microorganisms.The seed germination test showed that the films exhibited zero phytotoxicity. The films with a PVA content of 25–30% (by weight based on the total polymer weight) can be an ecofriendly and low-cost alternative to some synthetic coating and packaging films.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Upper Volga Region Centre of Physicochemical Research (Ivanovo, Russia) for the opportunity to use the equipment of the Centre for making some tests of the samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory “Chemistry of Hybrid Nanomaterials and Supramolecular Systems”, G.A. Krestov Institute of Solution Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademicheskaya St., 1, Ivanovo, 153045, Russia

    Nataliya E. Kochkina

  2. Laboratory of Oscillations and Wave Processes, Mechanical Engineering Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bardina St., 4, Moscow, 119337, Russia

    Olga A. Butikova

  3. All-Russian Research Institute of Starch Products, Nekrasova St., 11, Kraskovo, Moscow region, 140051, Russia

    Nikolay D. Lukin

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  1. Nataliya E. Kochkina
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  2. Olga A. Butikova
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Contributions

NEK: conceptualization, methodology, validation, software, data curation, formal analysis, visualization, and writing—original draft preparation. OAB: investigation and software. NDL: conceptualization, writing—reviewing and editing, and funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to Nataliya E. Kochkina.

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Kochkina, N.E., Butikova, O.A. & Lukin, N.D. Ecofriendly films based on low-substituted starch acetate enhanced by polyvinyl alcohol additions. Iran Polym J 31, 1361–1371 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-022-01083-3

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