The　AlCl3　center　dot　6H(2)O　aqueous　solution　was　used　to　dissolve　chitosan　(CS)　and　the　CS/poly(vinyl　alcohol)　(PVA)　blend　films　were　prepared　at　the　absence　of　acetic　acid.　AlCl3　center　dot　6H(2)O　was　retained　in　CS/PVA　film　and　glycerol　was　added　to　form　the　complex　plasticizer　with　AlCl3　center　dot　6H(2)O.　The　effect　of　glycerol　on　the　water　sorption,　crystalline,　thermal　and　mechanical　properties　of　AlCl3　center　dot　6H(2)O　doped　CS/PVA　film　was　studied　by　atomic　force　microscopy,　X-ray　diffraction,　thermal　gravity　analysis　and　tensile　testing,　respectively.　The　experimental　results　showed　that　glycerol　had　a　significant　positive　effect　on　the　properties　of　AlCl3　center　dot　6H(2)O　doped　CS/PVA　films.　With　the　synergism　effect　of　AlCl3　center　dot　6H(2)O　and　glycerol,　the　prepared　CS/PVA　films　showed　excellent　mechanical　properties.　With　the　addition　of　30　wt%　glycerol,　the　AlCl3　center　dot　6H(2)O　doped　CS/PVA　films　behave　the　tensile　strength　of　39　MPa　and　elongation　at　break　of　120%,　respectively.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.