The fabrication of pure chitin materials remains a challenge due to the difficult solubility and regeneration of chitin. In this work, chitin was dissolved completely in 11 wt% NaOH/4 wt% urea aqueous solution via the freezing/thawing method without derivatization. The pure regenerated chitin films with excellent mechanical properties were successfully prepared from the transparent chitin solution by coagulating with ethanol or 45 wt% dimethylacetamide (DMAc) aqueous solution. The dissolution and regeneration of chitin was confirmed to be entirely physical processes. The chitin films possessed high optical transmittance, excellent mechanical properties as well as good gas barrier properties, indicating great potentials in the materials field. This work would open up a completely new avenue with green technology to investigate the most intransigent chitin.

High strength films with gas-barrier fabricated from chitin solution dissolved at low temperature

245th National Meeting (2013)

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