Preparation and tensile properties of guar gum hydrogel films. Issue 3 (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jussen, Daniel; Sharma, Sandeep; Carson, James K; Pickering, Kim L
• Is Part Of: Polymers and polymer composites. Volume 28:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 180
• Page End: 186
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Guar gel films -- biodegradable polymers -- tensile properties; Polymers -- Periodicals; 668.905
• DOI: 10.1177/0967391119867560
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-3911

Abstract

Guar gum hydrogels may be dried to form polymer films which have the potential for use as biodegradable alternatives to polymers such as low-density polyethylene. In this study, the tensile strength and tensile modulus of guar gel films having moisture contents ranging between 15% and 18% (wet basis) were measured at a strain rate of 1 mm min −1 . Mean tensile strengths of the films ranged between 25 MPa and 40 MPa (dependent on composition) which is of similar magnitude to the tensile strength data for polyethylene and cellophane that are reported in the literature. The mean tensile modulus of the films (1.5–2.5 GPa) was higher than the tensile modulus values reported for low-density polyethylene but comparable to those for cellophane (3 GPa).