Assessment of some properties, morphology and film-forming ability of polycaprolactone/xanthan gum/chrysophanol composites

This study presents the effect of some auxiliary agents (polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyethylene glycol (PEG), Tween 80, and Tween 20) on the film-forming ability, properties, and morphology of the PCL/XG/CSP composites. The composite films were prepared by the solution casting method, in which PCL and CSP were dissolved in dichloromethane and XG was dissolved in distilled water. The emulsifiers such as PEG, Tween 80, and Tween 20 in liquid form were added to the PCL/CSP solution while PEO in powdery form was dissolved together with XG in distilled water. From the obtained results, the PCL/XG/CSP composites cannot form a film in the case of the addition of PEG, Tween 80, and Tween 20 while using PEO, even and smooth composite films were obtained. The processing conditions consisting of PEO content, PCL/XG ratio, and PCL and XG concentration in solution were also investigated to assess their influence on the morphology, structure, and mechanical properties of the PCL/XG/CSP/PEO composite films. With the highest tensile strength and elongation at break, the most uniform structure, the PCL/XG/CSP/PEO composite film prepared with the PEO content of 0.6 g, the PCL content of 0.14 g, the XG content of 0.06 g are the best sample among tested ones. The other characteristics including thermal property, crystal property, and surface property of the composite film prepared at the most suitable conditions have been also assessed.