Comparison of natural and synthetic chitin films

Abstract

Natural and synthetic chitin films obtained from the same source were produced and some properties were examined comparatively. Firstly natural chitin film was obtained from elytra of an insect (Oryctes nasicornis L.) and purity of the obtained chitin film (degree of acetylation: 79 ± 2%) was proved by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR). And then synthetic film was produced by dissolving of natural chitin film in LiCl–DMAc. The obtained natural and synthetic films were characterized by AFM, TGA, DSC, FTIR, mechanical properties, light transmission and contact angle. The analyses results demonstrated that natural chitin film lost very important properties such as high thermal stability, transparency, nanofibrous nature, tensile strength, Young’s modulus and hydrophobicity after transforming the synthetic film.