MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF AND WATER-VAPOR TRANSFERABILITY THROUGH WHEY-PROTEIN FILMS

Transglutaminase was used to produce films by polymerization of whey p roteins. The reaction mixture consisted of 5% whey protein in pH 7.5 b uffered solution under reducing conditions in the presence of Ca2+ ion s and glycerol. The water vapor transferability and the percentage of moisture of films were not significantly influenced by the whey protei n fraction. Water vapor transferability was inversely related to film thickness. Glycerol concentration of films directly affected film resi stance to breakage, moisture content, and resistance to water vapor tr ansferability.