Regenerated cellulose films with chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol: Effect of the moisture content on the barrier, mechanical and optical properties

[Display omitted] •Cellulose is a raw material to develop biodegradable composite films.•The water vapour permeability values increased with the moisture content of the films.•Mechanical properties of cellulose-chitosan-PVOH films depended on the water content.•Water molecules improve the UV-barrier properties of the films, increasing the film opacity. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of moisture content on the mechanical, barrier and optical properties of films obtained from regenerated cellulose with chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol equilibrated at several relative humidity conditions. The experimental moisture adsorption isotherms were fitted using the Guggenheim-Anderson-DeBoer model. The adsorption isotherm showed a typical type II sigmoidal shape. The highest moisture content (27.53 %) was obtained at a water activity of 0.9. The water vapour permeability values increased up to 6.34·10−11 g/ m s Pa as the moisture content of the films increased. Tensile strength, percentage of elongation, Young’s modulus, burst strength and distance to burst showed a significant plasticizing effect of the water molecules. Results suggest that interactions between film components and water molecules decrease the transmittance in the UV region and the transparency. Consequently, water molecules improve the UV-barrier properties of the films and increasing the opacity.