Innovation of PVA-Silica Xerogel Composite Film as a Packaging Material with Thermal Insulation Capability Yusmaniar, Intan Fadia Andani, Futi Kusuma Hati1, Afrizal
Department of Chemistry, Universitas Negeri Jakarta
Jln. Rawamangun Muka, Jakarta 13320, Indonesia
Abstract
Uncontrolled temperature fluctuations are a major factor contributing to the deterioration of food products, leading to quality degradation, microbial growth, and an increased risk of foodborne illnesses. Therefore, the development of effective thermal insulation materials for packaging is crucial to maintaining food temperature and ensuring safety. This research focuses on developing a packaging film based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), combined with silica xerogel synthesized from rice husk ash. The film was fabricated using the casting method, incorporating varying concentrations of silica xerogel-specifically 0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%. The results showed that the film containing 3% silica xerogel exhibited the optimal tensile strength, reaching 25.27 MPa. Additionally, higher concentrations of silica xerogel in the PVA/xerogel composite film were associated with longer environmental degradation times. Overall, the incorporation of silica xerogel into PVA films has proven effective in maintaining food shape and integrity, supporting its potential as a thermal insulation packaging material.
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