DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COLLAGEN FILMS WITH ADDED ESSENTIAL OIL OF CLOVE INDIA

This objective of this study was to develop and characterized films based on collagen and analyze the effects of concentrations of clay, plasticizer and essential oil on its characteristics. The solutions were prepared according to an experimental design of 2 3 with 3 central points. The films were produced by the "casting" technique, which consists on surface drying, and were characterized by the color, opacity, tensile strength, solubility, water vapor permeability and thickness. Lightness values ranged between 66.76 and 96.03, the brightness decreased with increasing the concentrations of clay, oil and glycerol. The opacity values showed an increase with the addition of glycerol, ranging from 1.96 to 44.24%. The values of tensile strength ranged from 5 to 14 MPa, and the solubility values, from 2.14 to 7.97%. In the 5% level, solubility and tensile strength analyzes were not significant. The water vapor permeability (WVP) ranged from 0.77 to 2.51 (g.mm/KPa.m(2).d). The most influent factors on the permeability to water vapor in the films are the glycerol and essential oil concentrations, which increases the permeability as these variables increase. In relation to the thickness, the concentration of montmorillonite clay interfered in the range from 0.02 to 0.04mm, and as higher its concentration, greater the thickness. It was concluded that the collagen films obtained good mechanical properties, adequate visual appearance, easy handing and low permeability to water vapor and low water solubility. The essential oil was effective in the structure of the film, since that it improves the look and easier handling.