Food Packaging Polymer Films as Aroma Vapor Barriers at Different Relative Humidities

Renewable nanocellulose materials received increased attention owing to their small dimensions, high specific surface area, high mechanical characteristics, biocompatibility, and compostability. Nanocellulose coatings are among many interesting applications of these materials to functionalize different by composition and structure surfaces, including plastics, polymer coatings, and textiles with broader applications from food packaging to smart textiles. Variations in porosity and thickness of nanocellulose coatings are used to adjust a load of functional molecules and particles into the coatings, their permeability, and filtration properties. Mechanical stability of nanocellulose coatings in a wet and dry state are critical characteristics for many applications. In this work, nanofibrillated and nanocrystalline cellulose coatings deposited on the surface of polymer films and textiles made of cellulose, polyester, and nylon are studied using atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, and T-peel adhesion tests. Methods to improve coatings adhesion and stability using physical and chemical cross-linking with added polymers and polycarboxylic acids are analyzed in this study. The paper reports on the effect of the substrate structure and ability of nanocellulose particles to intercalate into the substrate on the coating adhesion.

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Adhesion and Stability of Nanocellulose Coatings on Flat Polymer Films and Textiles

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25143238 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (14) ◽

pp. 3238

Author(s):

Raha Saremi ◽

Nikolay Borodinov ◽

Amine Mohamed Laradji ◽

Suraj Sharma ◽

Igor Luzinov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polymer Films ◽

Food Packaging ◽

Mechanical Stability ◽

Polymer Coatings ◽

High Specific Surface Area ◽

Force Microscopy ◽

Polycarboxylic Acids ◽

Composition And Structure ◽

Filtration Properties ◽

Physical And Chemical

Renewable nanocellulose materials received increased attention owing to their small dimensions, high specific surface area, high mechanical characteristics, biocompatibility, and compostability. Nanocellulose coatings are among many interesting applications of these materials to functionalize different by composition and structure surfaces, including plastics, polymer coatings, and textiles with broader applications from food packaging to smart textiles. Variations in porosity and thickness of nanocellulose coatings are used to adjust a load of functional molecules and particles into the coatings, their permeability, and filtration properties. Mechanical stability of nanocellulose coatings in a wet and dry state are critical characteristics for many applications. In this work, nanofibrillated and nanocrystalline cellulose coatings deposited on the surface of polymer films and textiles made of cellulose, polyester, and nylon are studied using atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, and T-peel adhesion tests. Methods to improve coatings’ adhesion and stability using physical and chemical cross-linking with added polymers and polycarboxylic acids are analyzed in this study. The paper reports on the effect of the substrate structure and ability of nanocellulose particles to intercalate into the substrate on the coating adhesion.

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Comparison of the Functional Barrier Properties of Chitosan Acetate Films with Conventionally Applied Polymers

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25153491 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (15) ◽

pp. 3491

Author(s):

Andrea Walzl ◽

Samir Kopacic ◽

Wolfgang Bauer ◽

Erich Leitner

Keyword(s):

Polymer Films ◽

Food Packaging ◽

Barrier Properties ◽

Good Alternative ◽

Recycled Paper ◽

Plastic Bags ◽

Plastic Materials ◽

Oil Hydrocarbons ◽

Migration Experiment ◽

Materials Used

The current demand to cut back on the use of plastic materials has brought a major boost to the search for bio-based alternatives. Not only are plastic bags and primary food packaging under scrutiny here, but also those materials used as functional barriers to reduce, for example, the migration of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) from recycled paper and board packaging. Most of the barriers now in use are synthetic, often have only moderate barrier functionalities and in addition reduce the environmentally-friendly character of cellulose-based materials. Against this background, bio-based polymers have been evaluated in terms of their functional barrier properties. Chitosan was found to be among the best performers in these materials. In this study, the behavior of a lab-made chitosan acetate film was compared with conventionally produced polymer films. The two-sided migration experiment described recently was used to determine the barrier properties of the tested materials. This not only allowed to test the intrinsic migration of the films and the permeation through them, but also to simulate real packaging situations by using a recycled paper as donor for MOH. The migrated fractions were determined using gas-chromatography-based techniques. While the conventionally produced polymer films showed only moderate barrier function, excellent results were seen for the biopolymer. It reduced the migration from the recycled paper to not detectable, singling it out as a good alternative to conventional materials.

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Mathematical analysis of transport properties of polymer films for food packaging. VII. Moisture transport through a polymer film with subsequent adsorption on and diffusion through food

Journal of Applied Polymer Science ◽

10.1002/app.1991.070430702 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 43 (7) ◽

pp. 1219-1225 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jeffrey S. Smith ◽

Nikolaos A. Peppa

Keyword(s):

Transport Properties ◽

Polymer Film ◽

Polymer Films ◽

Mathematical Analysis ◽

Moisture Transport ◽

Food Packaging ◽

And Diffusion

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Biofilm Formation Reduction by Eugenol and Thymol on Biodegradable Food Packaging Material

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods11010002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 2

Author(s):

Pavel Pleva ◽

Lucie Bartošová ◽

Daniela Máčalová ◽

Ludmila Zálešáková ◽

Jana Sedlaříková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Quality ◽

Polymer Films ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Food Packaging ◽

Polymeric Materials ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Butylene Succinate ◽

Active Food Packaging ◽

Materials Used

Biofilm is a structured community of microorganisms adhering to surfaces of various polymeric materials used in food packaging. Microbes in the biofilm may affect food quality. However, the presence of biofilm can ensure biodegradation of discarded packaging. This work aims to evaluate a biofilm formation on the selected biodegradable polymer films: poly (lactic acid) (PLA), poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), and poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) by selected bacterial strains; collection strains of Escherichiacoli, Staphylococcusaureus; and Bacillus pumilus, Bacillussubtilis, Bacillustequilensis, and Stenotrophomonasmaltophilia isolated from dairy products. Three different methods for biofilm evaluation were performed: the Christensen method, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and fluorescence microscopy. High biofilm formation was confirmed on the control PBS film, whereas low biofilm formation ability was observed on the PLA polymer sample. Furthermore, the films with incorporated antimicrobial compounds (thymol or eugenol) were also prepared. Antimicrobial activity and also reduction in biofilm formation on enriched polymer films were determined. Therefore, they were all proved to be antimicrobial and effective in reducing biofilm formation. These films can be used to prepare novel active food packaging for the dairy industry to prevent biofilm formation and enhance food quality and safety in the future.

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