Preparation procedures - Ingredients - Additives
3 important questions on Preparation procedures - Ingredients - Additives
What is added in a biopolymer film? And why?
A plasticiser. Otherwise the film would be brittle, fragile and glassy, which makes it difficult to prepare a defect-free film, but also difficult to handle the product. Addition of a plasticiser, changes the properties from glassy to brittle, to pliable and elastic, often called rubbery.
What can happen when too much plasticiser is added to a film?
It leads to loss of mechanical strength and ultimately loss of coherence of the layer.
What is a disadvantage of adding a plasticiser to a biopolymer?
Plasticizers for biopolymers are hydrophilic by nature, which means that their addition to the film will lead to an increase in moisture permeability, thereby compromising on the quality of the barrier function.
Further, it should be realised that plasticisers are usually relatively small molecules that may have good interaction with the product substrate. Thus, the plasticiser may slowly migrate from the film into the product, leading to a slow loss of elasticity of the film, and subsequent failure of the film, and possibly deterioration of the product itself.
Further, it should be realised that plasticisers are usually relatively small molecules that may have good interaction with the product substrate. Thus, the plasticiser may slowly migrate from the film into the product, leading to a slow loss of elasticity of the film, and subsequent failure of the film, and possibly deterioration of the product itself.
The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:
- A unique study and practice tool
- Never study anything twice again
- Get the grades you hope for
- 100% sure, 100% understanding
Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.
