Physico‐mechanical, thermal, and ultraviolet light barrier properties of collagen hydrolysate films from leather solid wastes incorporated with nano TiO₂

In the present research, titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by using sol‐gel technique, and the phase structure and morphology of obtained TiO 2 NPs were characterized by using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The XRD patterns of the TiO 2 NPs indicated the formation of anatase phase. A new nanocomposite film has been developed by solvent casting method from collagen hydrolysate (CH) and TiO 2 NPs at different concentrations for use in packaging industry. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed the intermolecular reactions between CH and TiO 2 NPs in the films. SEM micrographs revealed a clear dispersion of TiO 2 NPs on the surface of the films especially at low concentrations. Thermal analyses showed that after incorporation of TiO 2 NPs in polymer matrix, heat susceptibility of films were changed and weight loss of films was decreased. The results revealed that incorporation of TiO 2 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 2 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.