Ecofriendly Preparation and Characterization of a Cassava Starch/Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate Film

Abstract

Composite films of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) were prepared by adding thermoplastic starch (TPS) (TPS/PBAT) and nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) (TPS/PBAT/nano-ZnO). The changes of surface morphology, thermal properties, crystal types and functional groups of starch during plasticization were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, synchronous thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrometry, mechanical property tests, and contact Angle and transmittance tests. The relationship between the addition of TPS and the tensile strength, transmittance, contact angle, water absorption, and water vapor barrier of the composite film, and the influence of nano-ZnO on the mechanical properties and contact angle of the 10% TPS/PBAT composite film. Experimental results show that, after plasticizing, the crystalline form of starch changed from A-type to V-type, the functional group changed and the lipophilicity increased; the increase of TPS content, the light transmittance and mechanical properties of the composite membrane decreased, while the water vapor transmittance and water absorption increased. The mechanical properties of the composite can be significantly improved by adding nano-ZnO at a lower concentration (optimum content is 1 wt%).

Characterizing Mechanical, Heat Seal, and Gas Barrier Performance of Biodegradable Films to Determine Food Packaging Applications

“…The water contact angle of coated paper 1 is similar to a value of LDPE, reported in a previous study [47]. Contact angles of PBAT blends, with thermoplastic starch and nano zinc oxide, in a previous study were in between 89 and 104 • [49]. This range is similar to the ranges of the values of the PBAT blends on the surface of the samples in this study, such as coated paper 2, pilot extrusion PHBV, and the two monolayer blends, PLA + PBAT and starch + PBAT.…”

“…The values in Table 7 are in a narrow range of 80-105 • , between that of smooth cellulose films, which are hydrophilic and have contact angles below 50 • , and superhydrophobic surfaces, a property that can also be achieved with biodegradable materials, characterized by contact angles above 150 • [46]. The standard deviations of the results are rather high, suggesting inhomogeneous surfaces, compared to reported values in the literature [47][48][49]. The water contact angle of coated paper 1 is similar to a value of LDPE, reported in a previous study [47].…”

Eco‐friendly materials produced by blown‐film extrusion as potential active food packaging

“…Poly (butylene adipate‐ co ‐terephthalate) (PBAT) is a widely used, fully biodegradable co‐polyester with good mechanical performance. Its price is relatively high, which limits its applications 12 . By blending TPS with PBAT, it is possible to improve the mechanical properties and reduce material costs 12 .…”

“…Its price is relatively high, which limits its applications 12 . By blending TPS with PBAT, it is possible to improve the mechanical properties and reduce material costs 12 . TPS/PBAT blends are efficiently produced by blow‐extrusion, resulting in promising materials for food packaging 8,13 …”

Study of the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Starch/Poly(Lactic Acid) Blends Modified with Acid Agents

“…Figure 5a presents the curves of the TGA thermogram, where it is clear that the first mass losses were due to the detachment of weakly (between 25 and 70 • C) and strongly (between 70 and 180 • C) bound water [30]. The highest value was related to the evaporation of the plasticizer (sorbitol).…”