Title
Preparation and characterization of hemicellulose-based printable films
Authors
RUOXI MA ALEXANDRA PEKAROVICOVA PAUL D. FLEMING III and VERONIKA HUSOVSKA

Received October 5, 2016
Published Volume 51 Issue 9-10 September-December
Keywords glucomannan, nanocellulose, packaging film, surface free energy, physical properties, gravure printing

Abstract
Flexible plastic films, such as LDPE and PET, have been the most common substrates used in the printing and packaging industry for the last few decades. However, the global sustainability calls for more environmentally friendly, biodegradable and biocompatible materials. This research aims to advance the knowledge of the material properties of hemicellulose-based biofilms. Laboratory preparation of the hemicellulose-based films and the characterization of mechanical and surface properties were done. The biodegradable glucomannan films were formed with or without nanofibrillated cellulose (nanocellulose). In all cases, nanocellulose improved the mechanical properties of the films. Gravure printing was demonstrated on the biofilms. The one-way ANOVA method was used to analyze the effect of glucomannan, sorbitol as a plasticizer, and nanofibrillated cellulose on the mechanical properties of the films. It was found that all of those factors significantly affected the mechanical properties of the biofilms.