Effects of nano‐tio2 on the performance of high‐amylose starch based antibacterial films

The purpose of this article is to investigate the effects of nano-tianium dioxide (nano-TiO2) on the high-amylose starch/polyvingl alcohol (PVA) blend films prepared by a solution casting method. The results show that at the concentration of 0.6% of nano-TiO2, the film demonstrated the best tensile strength at 9.53 MPa, and the elongation at break was noted as 49.50%. The optical transmittance of the film was decreased and the water resistance was improved with further increase of the concentration of nano-TiO2. Using the techniques of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the molecular and the crystal structures of the films were characterized. The results indicate that the miscibility and compatibility between high-amylose starch and PVA were increased with the addition of nano-TiO2 into the films due to the formation of hydrogen and COTi bonds. The antimicrobial activities of the blend films were also explored. The results show that there were inhibitory zones around the circular film disc, which is attributable to the addition of nano-TiO2. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42339.