EFFECT OF GLYCEROL CONTENT ON WATER VAPOR TRANSPORT THROUGH CELLULOSE TRIACETATE FILMS PRODUCED FROM THE USE OF CORN (Zea mays L.) STRAW

Glycerol is a plasticizer widely used due to its good plasticization efficiency, great availability, biocompatibility and low exudation. It is a renewable raw material that, when introduced in biodegradable films, promotes significant changes in its properties and, thus, guarantees a wide spectrum of application. In this work, corn straw was used to produce cellulose triacetate films from mixtures with glycerol (10%, 20% and 30%). The films were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis, Water Vapor Transport Rate and Water Vapor Permeation. The cellulose triacetate films produced with 20% glycerol have high barrier properties, when compared to films with concentrations 0, 10 and 30%.