Effects of Plasticizers on Characterization of Biodegradable Film Based on Tamarind Kernel Polysaccharide

Tamarind kernel polysaccharide-based film was formulated to study the effects of polyethylene glycol 400, glycerol, sorbitol, tween 80, tween 40, tween 20 and span 20 on mechanical, optical,and thermal properties. Addition of plasticizersto tamarind kernel polysaccharide led to changes in tensile strength, elasticmodulus,and elongation at break of the films. The tensilestrength of films containing polyethylene glycol 400, glycerol, sorbitol, tween20 and span20was lower than films containingtween 80, tween 40and non-plasticizedfilm. Sorbitol-plasticized filmexhibited the best mechanical properties with lowest tensile strength,6.07MPaand highest elongation at break5.91%. Film containing sorbitol also showed highestoptical transparency,while polyethylene glycol 400andglycerol exhibited lowest transparency and highest whiteness index. Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) revealed that incorporation of plasticizers increased the mobility of the polymer chains.The additionof sorbitol, glycerol,and tween 20reduced the glass transition temperature of tamarind kernel polysaccharide film from49.81to20.97, 42.41and42.92 °C, respectively.Sorbitol proved to be an effective plasticizer for improving flexibility and enhancing the optical property of tamarind kernel polysaccharide film. As a result of the research, it was discovered that tamarind kernel polysaccharide film plasticizedwith sorbitol has the potential to be used in the creation of biopolymer film for culinary and biomedicalapplications.

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