Choline chloride based ionic liquid analogues as tool for the fabrication of agar films with improved mechanical properties

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Ana Sousa (Author) FEUP; Hileia Souza (Author) FEUP; NicK Latona (Author) Other; C-K Liu (Author) Other; Maria Do Pilar Gonçalves (Author) FEUP; L. Liu (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Carbohydrate Polymers

Vol. 111

Pages: 206-214

ISSN: 0144-8617

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 30 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 31 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-HH3

DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.04.019

Abstract (EN): In the present paper, we test the suitability of ChCl/urea (DES-U) and ChCl/glycerol (DES-G) eutectic mixtures, each one prepared at 1:2 molar ratio, for the production of agar films. A three-step process is proposed: pre-solubilization of polymer in DES followed by compression-molding and subsequent drying. The mechanical properties, water resistance and microstructure of the films were evaluated at different polymer concentrations (i.e. 2-6%, w/w). DES-U showed by far, the best film forming ability. Agreeing with the diffusion and SEM data, films with the best mechanical properties were found at the lowest and highest agar concentrations (tensile strengths of 24.2-42 MPa and elongations of 15.4-38.9%). The water sorption and contact angle studies suggested increased hydrophilicity for the film containing the lowest concentration of agar. The use of choline chloride based ionic liquid analogues as solvent and plasticizer might be a promising tool for the development of new non-aqueous materials based on seaweed polysaccharides. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9