Mechanical, Physical and Thermal Characterization of PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol)/Chitosan Bioplastic Film

Abstract

PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) and chitosan polymers are two widely used polymers in bioplastic due to their biodegradable properties. This research aims to characterize the mechanical, physical, and thermal properties of combined PVA 3 wt.% and chitosan by 0.5, 1, and 2 wt.% as bioplastic films. It was tested using tensile, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetry analysis. Adding 1 wt.% chitosan increases the bioplastic film's tensile strength and thermal stability by 60% and 49℃, respectively. In addition, adding this chitosan also increases the bioplastic film's crystallinity index. However, adding 2 wt.% chitosan affected stiffness and brittle, which indicates a decrease in the elongation at break by 27%.