Influence of chitin nanocrystal content on intermolecular interactions, crystallinity, and properties of starch–chitosan composite films

. TGA showed a 14-17 °C decrease in the principal DTG peak temperature with ChNC incorporation alongside a monotonic increase in char yield, indicating preserved overall thermal stability. These findings indicate that ChNCs function not as inert fillers but as active mediators of polysaccharide chain organization, offering a molecular-level strategy for tuning the structure-property relationships of starch-chitosan biopolymer systems. The optimal 2.5 wt% formulation is positioned for short-shelf-life food-packaging applications such as fresh-produce wraps, bakery overwraps, and lined paperboard for dry foods.