Physico-Mechanical, Thermal, and Ultraviolet Light Barrier Properties of Collagen Hydrolysate Films From Leather Solid Wastes Incorporated With Nano TiO2

Abstract

In the present research, titanium dioxide (TiO<inf>2</inf>) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by using sol-gel technique, and the phase structure and morphology of obtained TiO<inf>2</inf> NPs were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The XRD patterns of the TiO<inf>2</inf> NPs indicated the formation of anatase phase. A new nanocomposite film has been developed by solvent casting method from collagen hydrolysate (CH) and TiO<inf>2</inf> NPs at different concentrations for use in packaging industry. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed the intermolecular reactions between CH and TiO<inf>2</inf> NPs in the films. SEM micrographs revealed a clear dispersion of TiO<inf>2</inf> NPs on the surface of the films especially at low concentrations. Thermal analyses showed that after incorporation of TiO<inf>2</inf> NPs in polymer matrix, heat susceptibility of films were changed and weight loss of films was decreased. The results revealed that incorporation of TiO<inf>2</inf> NPs significantly decremented water vapor permeability (WVP), water solubility, and elongation at break (EAB) of the films, whereas tensile strength (TS) significantly incremented. The findings pointed out that TiO<inf>2</inf> NPs can be successfully incorporate to the CH films and the reutilization of CH in nanocomposite films will be a promising alternative material in non-food packaging industry. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers