Preparation of glycerol plasticized chitosan films using AlCl3·6H2O as the solvent: optical, crystalline, mechanical and barrier properties

Chitosan films plasticized with the complex of AlCl3·6H2O and glycerol were prepared by using AlCl3·6H2O as the solvent. The effect of AlCl3·6H2O and glycerol complex with Chitosan was studied by SEM, XRD, TGA, and tensile testing. The complex would increase the water resistance and destroy the crystals of chitosan film. The TGA results proved that the chitosan film plasticized with the complex showed higher thermal stability at the temperature below 200 °C than pure chitosan film. With the addition of the complex of AlCl3·6H2O and glycerol, the tensile strength of chitosan film decreased and the elongation at break increased.