Preparation and investigation of the structural and mechanical properties of biodegradable gelatin- based films

Biodegradable gelatin-based films have been obtained in the presence of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) additives intended for use as packaging of food products and drug carriers. By methods of scanning electron microscopy and measurement of film roughness, it was found that films obtained from a mixture of CMC and gelatin have the greatest roughness. It is shown that the introduction of CMC into the composition of gelatin films leads to a sharp decrease in the strength and modulus of elasticity of the films, however, the deformation has maximum values at a mass ratio of CMC / gelatin equal to 0.7. This is explained by the formation of associates due to H-bonds and electrostatic interactions between functional groups of gelatin proteins and polysaccharide macromolecules, stabilized by hydrophobic interactions between their nonpolar sites. The barrier properties of films based on CMC and gelatin have been studied. It is shown that CMC-based films have the highest air permeability and the lowest water resistance, which is due to the texture of the film material. Based on IR spectroscopy data, it was found that films obtained from a mixture of CMC and gelatin are the most stable. Glycerin was used to regulate the deformation of the films.