| Summary: | The preparation and characterization of biodegradable films based on starch-PVA-nanoclay by solvent casting are reported in this study. The films were prepared with a relation of 3:2 of starch:PVA and nanoclay (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% <i>w</i>/<i>v</i>), and glycerol as plasticizer. The nanoclays before being incorporated in the filmogenic solution of starch-PVA were dispersed in two ways: by magnetic stirring and by sonication. The SEM results suggest that the sonication of nanoclay is necessary to reach a good dispersion along the polymeric matrix. FTIR results of films with 1.0 and 1.5% <i>w</i>/<i>v</i> of sonicated nanoclay suggest a strong interaction of hydrogen bond with the polymeric matrix of starch-PVA. However, the properties of WVP, tensile strength, percentage of elongation at break, and Young’s modulus improved to the film with sonicated nanoclay at 0.5% <i>w</i>/<i>v</i>, while in films with 1.0 and 1.5% <i>w</i>/<i>w</i> these properties were even worse than in film without nanoclay. Nanoclay concentrations higher than 1.0 <i>w</i>/<i>v</i> saturate the polymer matrix, affecting the physicochemical properties. Accordingly, the successful incorporation of nanoclays at 0.5% <i>w</i>/<i>v</i> into the matrix starch-PVA suggests that this film is a good candidate for use as biodegradable packaging.
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