Preparation of chitosan/tragacanth composite film and evaluation of its mechanical and physical properties

In this research, the combination of two levels of tragacanth gum (15 and 30%) on chitosan film 2 % were studied and produced film characteristics checked out. The results are proved the best properties in tragacanth 30% in combination with chitosan. Moisture and solubility was not significantly increased by adding tragacanth to chitosan (p>0.05). There was a significant difference between water vapor permeability of chitosan (control) and composite (p-1 s-1 p-1. Tensile strength of chitosan did not change significantly with the addition of tragacanth (p>0.05) but the lowest tensile strength showed in the composite 15%. Elongation percentage was reduced by addition of tragacanth. Add tragacanth to chitosan did not cause significant changes in its transparency (p>0.05) but the degree of transparency was reduced, so that the lowest transparency was observed in the composite 30%. The results of the present study demonstrated that the addition of tragacanth into the chitosan improve the physical and mechanical properties of this polymer in the film and increase its efficiency for fish packaging.