Abstract:Coupled with the paralleled uniform electric field, the soft zein films with complete shape were obtained by casting. Effect of the electric field force on mechanical properties of zein film prepared for different alcohol concentrations was studied. As the tertiary structure of zein molecules was destroyed by electric field force, charged polar residues (amino groups and carboxyl groups, etc) exposed and directionally moved along the electric field lines. The stable state of micelle-like structured zein molecules was seesawed until the molecules found some new levels of equilibrium. It was demonstrated that at the initial phase, tensile strength, breaking elongation and contact angle of films were increased with the increase of the concentrations of ethanol solution, and reached the maximum value (73.41 MPa, 9.54% and 62.46°, respectively); water vapour permeability (WVP) reached the minimum value of 2.54×10-8 g?m/(m2?h?Pa). The changes of C〖FY=,1〗O and β-sheet vibrating peaks of Raman analysis indicated denaturation of protein partly. Observations under scanning electron microscope (SEM) of surface and cross section revealed that the presence of uniform electric field helped to improve the properties of zein films. In conclusion, the findings of the synergistic effect of ethanol and the paralleled uniform electric field on zein films may contribute to develop edible food packaging material with ideal surface morphology and hydrophobicity.