Foods and Raw Materials Foods and Raw Materials Foods and Raw Materials 2308-4057 2310-9599 105484 10.21603/2308-4057-2026-2-681 ETGLCB Research Article Research Article Research Article Developing composite films from carboxymethyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, and kaolin for sustainable packaging applications Developing composite films from carboxymethyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, and kaolin for sustainable packaging applications Omoike Bright A. Omoike Bright A. brightomoike@yahoo.com Okieimen Felix E. Okieimen Felix E. felix.okieimen@uniben.edu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9680-1635 Imoisi Chinyere Imoisi Chinyere Mewar International University Masaka Нигерия Mewar International University Masaka Nigeria University of Benin Benin City Нигерия University of Benin Benin City Nigeria Mewar International University Masaka Нигерия Mewar International University Masaka Nigeria 20 10 2025 20 10 2025 14 2 344 356 27 09 2024 03 06 2025 https://jfrm.ru/en/issues/23601/23909/

Health and environmental problems are rising by the day due to an increasing use of synthetic plastics. However, biobased packaging from starch, with its numerous advantages, or its derivatives offers a promising solution to this problem. In this study, we aimed to explore a sustainable approach to developing a bioplastic film from carboxymethyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, and kaolin to serve as a substitute for synthetic packaging. The study objects included carboxymethyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, glycerol, and kaolin. All the materials were heated in water to form viscous solutions. The solution was then cast into films using a mold and the water was evaporated through oven-drying. The cast films were characterized via scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. They were analyzed for their tensile mechanical, barrier, sorption, and biodegradability properties. We also investigated the effects of polyvinyl alcohol and kaolin on the morphology and functional properties of the films. The micro-surface morphology of the carboxymethyl starch/polyvinyl alcohol blend revealed a smooth and homogenous structure, while the film reinforced with kaolin had a more compact structure with zones of particle aggregations. The highest thermal stability was observed in the composite films containing carboxymethyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, and kaolin. Higher contents of polyvinyl alcohol and kaolin significantly improved the films’ thermal, tensile mechanical, barrier, and sorption properties. The films also demonstrated a substantial rate of biodegradability. The best properties were observed in the films containing 40% of carboxymethyl starch, 60% of polyvinyl alcohol, and 4.5 per hundred resin (phr) of kaolin. The composite films made from carboxymethyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, and kaolin had good biodegradability, renewability, and improved functional material properties. Therefore, they can be considered a sustainable alternative to the traditional synthetic plastics in packaging applications.

Health and environmental problems are rising by the day due to an increasing use of synthetic plastics. However, biobased packaging from starch, with its numerous advantages, or its derivatives offers a promising solution to this problem. In this study, we aimed to explore a sustainable approach to developing a bioplastic film from carboxymethyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, and kaolin to serve as a substitute for synthetic packaging. The study objects included carboxymethyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, glycerol, and kaolin. All the materials were heated in water to form viscous solutions. The solution was then cast into films using a mold and the water was evaporated through oven-drying. The cast films were characterized via scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. They were analyzed for their tensile mechanical, barrier, sorption, and biodegradability properties. We also investigated the effects of polyvinyl alcohol and kaolin on the morphology and functional properties of the films. The micro-surface morphology of the carboxymethyl starch/polyvinyl alcohol blend revealed a smooth and homogenous structure, while the film reinforced with kaolin had a more compact structure with zones of particle aggregations. The highest thermal stability was observed in the composite films containing carboxymethyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, and kaolin. Higher contents of polyvinyl alcohol and kaolin significantly improved the films’ thermal, tensile mechanical, barrier, and sorption properties. The films also demonstrated a substantial rate of biodegradability. The best properties were observed in the films containing 40% of carboxymethyl starch, 60% of polyvinyl alcohol, and 4.5 per hundred resin (phr) of kaolin. The composite films made from carboxymethyl starch, polyvinyl alcohol, and kaolin had good biodegradability, renewability, and improved functional material properties. Therefore, they can be considered a sustainable alternative to the traditional synthetic plastics in packaging applications.

 Biobased packaging bioplastics sustainable mechanical tensile barrier properties biodegradability composites Biobased packaging bioplastics sustainable mechanical tensile barrier properties biodegradability composites

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