Open Access Conference Proceedings

The global push for eco-friendly and biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics has intensified interest in natural polymers for sustainable functional materials. In this contribution, we present a robust formulation for highly sustainable, flexible composite films engineered from a synergistic combination of two abundant polysaccharides, carrageenan (CG) and sodium alginate (SA). These abundant biopolymers were selected for their intrinsic film-forming ability, non-toxicity, and biodegradability, offering a green alternative for advanced material design. Using a solvent-casting technique without toxic crosslinkers, we engineered CG-SA composite films with tailored structural and mechanical performance by modulating the CG:SA ratio.A thorough investigation of the films' structural, thermal, optical, surface, and mechanical properties reveals a strong compositional dependence, with the most pronounced synergistic effect observed in mechanical performance. Notably, a CG:SA ratio of 40:60 permits a synergistic molecular interaction between the polysaccharides, enabling a fourfold increase in tensile strength and over twofold improvement in elongation at break compared to films made from single-component systems. Given their biodegradable nature, processability, and mechanical resilience, these films are strong candidates for supporting nanomaterials traditionally implemented in real-world applications such as eco-conscious food packaging using ZnO or nanoclays, in flexible electronics with carbon nanostructures, in wearable sensors employing plasmonic nanoparticles, or in bio-integrated substrates with polymer nanoparticles. This work, thus, contributes to the growing field of green nanomaterial supporting platforms, offering a scalable, non-toxic route aligned with the objectives of sustainable nanotechnology.

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