2.2.1. Preparation of Polymeric Blends

P and CS were solubilized in water while the CH solution was prepared in 90% v/v acetic acid and CA was added. A polymeric blend was prepared by mixing P and CS with a CH solution at a 1:1 weight ratio. The preparation schematic is reported in Figure 1.

**Figure 1.** Schematic of the blend preparation.

The hybrid blends were then prepared by the addition of MMT or HNT to the polymeric blend, prepared as previously described [16]. For this purpose, clay minerals were grounded in a mortar and sieved with a 75 μm sieve. Either MMT or HNT were added to the P and CS blend at different concentrations. All the blends prepared had the same composition in polysaccharides while they were based on different concentrations of clay minerals. The composition of all the systems prepared is reported in Table 1.


**Table 1.** Composition (% w/w) of the polymeric blends.
