Aim: To determine the swelling index of the starch-PVA blend film

To study the effect of the PVA percentage on biodegradation properties of starch PVA films.

Apparatus/ chemical required: Starch, PVA, water, stirrer, beaker, stop watch

Theory:

 def. of starch
 structure
 amylose and amylopectine
 glycosidic linkage
 properties
 applications
 solvent casting method
 Swelling index

Swelling Index: (Final weight of the film- Initial weight of the film )/ Time

Procedure:

 Take 20g of starch in a 100 ml water in beaker.

 Dissolve it by stirring ,heated if required
 Add calculated amount of PVA ( for 50:50, 20: 80 and 80:20 starch to PVA ratio). So this is
how u get three films.
 Dissolves make homogenous and uniform solution.
 Cast a film in petri dish(already oiled).
 Dry in oven at 60 degree Celsius.
 Weigh the dry film
Swelling index:
 Take initial weight of the film (divide the film in four parts of appro. equal size say film 1, film
2, film 3, and film 4).
 Dip the film in water say for 10 min, 15 min, 20 min and 25 min.
 Weigh again the same film after it get swelled. (Final wt.)
 Repeat the same procedure for rest of the films.

Observation Table:

A. For 50: 50 film:

S. no. sample Time Initial wt. final wt. Weight Swelling

(min.) (g) of the (g) of the gain (g) Index
film film
10
15
20
 25

B. For 20: 80 film:

S. no. sample Time Initial wt. final wt. Weight Swelling

(min.) (g) of the (g) of the gain (g) Index
film film
10
15
20
25

C. For 80: 20 film:

S. no. sample Time Initial wt. final wt. Weight Swelling

(min.) (g) of the (g) of the gain (g) Index
film film
10
15
20
25

Calculations:

Formula used: swelling index= (final wt. of film- initial wt. of film)/ time

Unit: swelling or g/min.

Graph: plot a curve weight gain (y-axis) vs time (x-axis)

 Get a line with positive slop. Extrapolation at X=0, give swelling index at y axis.

Result: swelling index is -----------------( 50:50, 20:80 and 80:20)

Precautions:

 Film should not get dissolved.

 Uniform mix.
 Complete dry.

Mettle