Abstract
To improve water resistance of the blend films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and N-(2-hydroxy)propyl-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC), crosslinking was introduced by using glutaraldehyde (GA) solution. The changes in characteristics of the blend films crosslinked with different concentrations of GA solution were evaluated with FT-IR, DMA and measurements of swelling and bacterial reduction. The IR peak analysis of the hydroxyl groups in the blend film indicated that the aldehyde groups of GA reacted with the hydroxyl groups of PYA and HTCC and that the crosslinking reaction was predominant in the hydroxyl groups of PVA rather than those of HTCC. Crosslinked PVA/HTCC blend films showed higher peak temperature in tan $\delta$ curves compared to uncrosslinked ones, the temperature being increased with GA concentration. Although uncrosslinked PVA/HTCC blend films showed excellent bacterial reduction, the introduction of crosslinks deteriorated the antimicrobial activity. It decreased more with increasing GA concentration.