Enhancement of Barrier Properties of Fish Skin Gelatin based Film Layered with PLA and PBAT

Three-layer eco-packaging films from fish skin gelatin, poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) were developed at different dry weight ratios and referred to as ‘P5/G90/B5, P10/G80/B10, P15/G70/B15, P20/G60/B20 and P25/G50/B25’ and analyzed for their properties with their corresponding control films (G100, P100 and B100). Thickness of three-layer films reduced with increased ratio of PLA and PBAT (p < 0.05). Elasticity of three-layer films was improved by the addition of PBAT layer. In general, control gelatin film showed the highest water vapor permeability (6.161 × 10^{− 11} g.m.m^{− 2}.s^{− 1}.Pa^{− 1}) (p < 0.05). Lightness value (L*) of three-layer films increased when compared with PLA and gelatin film. Highest transparency value of 20.41 was found for control PBAT film (p < 0.05). Solubility of three-layer films in water reduced with the inclusion of bioplastics. The functional groups and secondary structure of developed films were observed by ATR-FTIR spectra. TGA and DSC analyses confirmed the improved thermal properties of resulted three-layer film. Thus, the addition of bioplastics enhanced the properties of films and developed three-layer eco-packaging materials might gradually replace the synthetic plastic packaging in near future.