Use of new silica fillers as additives for polymers used in packaging of fruit

• Main Authors: Romina Arreche, Mirta Blanco, Patricia Vázquez, José Miguel Martín-Martínez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Química 2012-01-01
• Series: Química Nova
• Subjects: modified silica; SEM; TEM
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-40422012001000003&lng=en&tlng=en

The objective of this work was to synthesize nanosilicas with different degree of hydrophobicity by the sol-gel method, using tetraethyl orthosilicate as a precursor. For this purpose, 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APS) and 1,1,1,3,3,3 - hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), were added during synthesis as modifiers. A commercial biopolymer (Hexamoll Dinch, BASF) intended for packaging of apples, was added to the new nanosilicas. The materials obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, potentiometric titration, porosity, specific surface area and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity by wetting test. Colorimetry was used to evaluate change in apple pulp color after contact with the different silicas.