Carboxymethylcellulose-Montmorillonite nanocomposite films activated with murta (Ugni molinae Turcz) leaves extract

MARCELA QUILAQUEO GUTIÉRREZ; IGNACIO ECHEVERRIA; MÓNICA IHL; VALERIO BIFANI; ADRIANA MAURI

CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2012 vol. 87 p. 1495 - 1502

0144-8617

The functionality of nanocomposite films based on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and montmorillonite (MMT) activated with murta (Ugni molinae Turcz) leaves extract was studied. Films were prepared by casting from film-forming dispersions containing CMC, glycerol (used as plasticizer) and different concentrations of MMT, using water or murta extract as solvent. The addition of MMT increased the tensile strength and the elasticity modulus of the films, and decreased their permeabilities to water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Besides the antioxidants properties provided to the films, the addition of murta leaves extract changed the gas permeability in different form according to the MMT content, and plasticized the nanocomposite matrix.