Control of mechanical properties of chitin nanofiber film using glycerol without losing its characteristics.

Surface-deacetylated chitin nanofiber films plasticized with glycerol were prepared to control mechanical properties. Nanofiber networks were able to retain excessive glycerol content up to 70% to obtain self-standing film. All films were flexible and highly transparent independent of glycerol content. Glycerol significantly decreased the Young's moduli and tensile strengths, and increased the fracture strain due to its plasticizing effect. At the same time, glycerol did not change the high transparency or the low thermal expansion of the nanofiber film.