EFFECT OF CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE AND PLASTICIZER CONCENTRATION ON WETTING AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CASHEW TREE GUM-BASED FILMS

The combination of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), cashew tree gum and, glycerol as plasticizer was evaluated in the formation and properties of films processed by casting. CMC acts as both a gelling and film-formation agent, yielding samples with reasonable mechanical properties. Increasing the concentration of CMC increased tensile strength, reduced elongation at break, and decreased wettability of the blended films. Microscopy surface observation shows that plasticizer addition reduces cracks in the films. The combination of cashew gum with CMC increases the hydrophobicity characteristic of the films. The plasticizer, even in small amounts, reduces the hydrophobicity thus increasing surface wettability. This study shows that cashew gum/CMC/glycerol-composed films can be considered as potential materials for technological applications.