"Green" films from renewable resources: properties of epoxidized soybean oil plasticized ethyl cellulose films

Dong Yang; Xinwen Peng; Linxin Zhong; Xuefei Cao; Wei Chen; Xueming Zhang; Shijie Liu; Runcang Sun

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.12.043

"Green" films from renewable resources: properties of epoxidized soybean oil plasticized ethyl cellulose films

Carbohydr Polym. 2014 Mar 15:103:198-206. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.12.043. Epub 2013 Dec 24.

Authors

Dong Yang¹, Xinwen Peng¹, Linxin Zhong², Xuefei Cao¹, Wei Chen¹, Xueming Zhang³, Shijie Liu¹, Runcang Sun⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China. Electronic address: lxzhong0611@scut.edu.cn.
³ Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.

PMID: 24528720
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.12.043

Abstract

Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), which is a biomass-derived resource, was first used as a novel plasticizer for ethyl cellulose (EC) film preparation. Surface morphologies, mechanical performances, thermal properties, oxygen and water vapor permeabilities of plasticized EC films were detected in detail to evaluate the plasticizing effect of ESO and explore the plastication mechanisms. Results showed that ESO was an effective plasticizer that outstripped conventional plasticizers, i.e. dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and triethyl citrate (TEC) in producing high-quality films. Especially, at plasticizer concentrations of 15-25%, ESO-EC films had preferable mechanical properties and better thermal stability, as well as non-flammability. In addition, the water vapor permeability of ESO-EC films was lower than that of traditional plasticized films. Their oxygen permeability was also remained in a low level. These outstanding performances were related to the relatively high molecular weight, hydrophobicity, chemical structure of ESO, and the intermolecular interactions between ESO and EC chains.

Keywords: Epoxidized soybean oil; Ethyl cellulose; Film; Plasticizer.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cellulose / analogs & derivatives
Cellulose / chemistry*
Molecular Structure
Particle Size
Plasticizers / chemistry*
Soybean Oil / chemistry*
Surface Properties

Substances

Plasticizers
epoxidized soybean oil
Soybean Oil
Cellulose