• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.108-111
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• 2005

To improve water-resistance and physical properties of sodium alginate film, effects of sodium alginate and plasticizer concentrations, divalent cation types and concentrations, and immersion time of films into divalent cation solutions on sodium alginate films were evaluated, based on elongation strength (ES), elongation rate (E), water vapor permeability (WVP), and water solubility (WS). Film made from 1.5% sodium alginate solution (w/w) had low WVP and WS, which are optimal characteristics for application of film preparation. Addition of plasticizer increased E and WS. Less than 2% $CaCl_2$ addition and 15min immersion time reduced WVP, WS, and E significantly (p<0.05). Sodium alginate films treated with $CuCl_2$, and $ZnCl_2$ solutions had lower WVP and WS, whereas $MgCl_2$ had no influence on improving water resistance of films.