Use of new silica fillers as additives for polymers used in packaging of fruit

ARRECHE ROMINA; BLANCO MIRTA; J. M. MARTIN MARTINEZ; VAZQUEZ PATRICIA

QUíMICA NOVA

SOC BRASILEIRA QUIMICA

Lugar: San Pablo; Año: 2012 vol. 35 p. 1907 - 1911

0100-4042

The objective of this work was to synthesize nanosilicas with different degree of hydrophobicity by the sol-gel method, using tetraethyl orthosilicate as a precursor. For this purpose, 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APS) and 1,1,1,3,3,3?hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), were added during synthesis as modifiers. A commercial biopolymer (Hexamoll Dinch, BASF) intended for packagingof apples, was added to the new nanosilicas. The materials obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, potentiometric titration, porosity, specific surface area and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity by wetting test. Colorimetry was used to evaluate change in apple pulp color after contact with the different silicas.