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SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS BASED ON BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of the proposed research effort is to develop novel coating formulations and appropriate processes to significantly enhance the gas barrier properties of bioderived polylactic acid (PLA) films. The surface modification of PLA would be carried with the following considerations:
- Renewable, non-toxic and biobased polyelectrolytes such as chitosan and natural clays such as montmorillonite (MMT) would be used
- The coating process will be carried our using safe methods and solvents
- The modified PLA film should provide substantially lower Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR)
Description:
Packaging is one of the largest market segments for the polymer industry. Food packaging industry is currently dominated by crude oil-derived, non-biodegradable polyolefin and polyesters. Due to their environmental persistence (non-biodegradability) leading to accumulation in land and water, plastic packaging materials have come under intense scrutiny. Thus there is an immediate need to develop bio-based, biodegradable plastic alternatives for food packaging. Currently, less than 1 % of plastic packaging is derived from bio-based sources. Although this sector is growing rapidly, bioplastic films do not have adequate barrier properties for being used directly in food packaging applications. The goal of this research project is to develop and test a bio based packaging solution with significantly improved barrier properties (especially to oxygen and water vapor).