FTIR AND TGA STUDIES OF CHITOSAN COMPOSITE FILMS

The synthesis of chitosan and resulting chitosan composite films was carried out using glycerol, tween, and beeswax as additives to prepare the composites films, after which a complete study by FTIR was carried out for all the chitosan composite films. Several differences in the absorption bands were seen for each composite, confirming the presence of the material incorporated therein. Thermal stability was studied by thermogravimetric analysis, which further verified the differences between pure chitosan films and the series of composite films. The composite films are good alternatives to existing food storage materials due to important similarities with commercial polypropylenes, not to mention their environmental advantages as regards improved degradability