0 g of starch, glycerol, and distilled water in order to complete 100 g of solution. The quantities of clay nanoparticles and glycerol were varied from (0.0 to 0.1) g and from (0.75 to 1.25) g, respectively, yielding Tanespimycin purchase a total of 6 different formulations elaborated, according to Table 1. After homogenization, this solution was heated in a domestic microwave oven until starch gelatinization, which occurs at (69 ± 2) °C. After cooling, this solution was diluted with 14.25 g of ethanol, and, poured onto cylindrical plates and dried at

(35 ± 2) °C for (18–24) h, in the same oven with forced air circulation. After drying, all films (produced in both phases) were stored at a controlled relative humidity of 75% for one week prior to testing. Since starch films have a hydrophilic character, high moisture ambient was chosen in order to evaluate film performance in a typical tropical weather condition (Veiga-Santos et al., 2008). The physical Selleck Bioactive Compound Library appearance of the films was inspected visually and by touch. The thickness (t) [mm] was measured using a flat parallel surface micrometer (MITUTOYO SulAmericana Ltda., model 103-137, Brazil, precision 0.002 mm), at five random positions. Tensile strength (TS) [MPa] and percent elongation at break (E) [%]

were evaluated by a tensile test performed on a texture analyzer (TA.XT2i – Stable Micro Systems, UK) using the A/TGT self-tightening roller grips fixture, according to ASTM D882-09 (2009). Filmstrips (130 mm × 25 mm) were cut from each preconditioned sample and mounted Carbohydrate between the grips of the equipment. Initial grip separation and test speed were set to 50 mm and 0.8 mm s−1, respectively. Tensile strength (nominal) was calculated dividing the maximum load by the

original minimum cross-sectional area of the specimen (related to minimum thickness). Percent elongation at break (nominal) was calculated by dividing the extension at the specimen break point by its initial gage length and multiplying by 100. All specimens were evaluated in triplicate. Water vapor transmission (WVT) was determined by a gravimetric method based on ASTM E96/E96M-05 (2005), using the Desiccant Method. This property was reported as water vapor permeability (WVP) that is the rate of water vapor transmission (WVT) through a unit area of flat material of unit thickness induced by unit vapor pressure difference between two surfaces, under specified humidity condition of 75%. Each film sample was sealed with paraffin over a circular opening of 44 cm2 at the permeation cell (PVA/4, REGMED, Brazil) that was stored, at room temperature, in a desiccator. To maintain 75% of relative humidity (RH) gradient across the film, silica gel was placed inside the cell and a sodium chloride saturated solution (75% RH) was used in the desiccator.