Effect of Food Simulants on the Properties of LDPE-Nano TiO2 Composite Film in Food Contact Environment

Abstract

The effect of food simulants on properties and light barrier function of LDPE-nano TiO 2 composite film has been investigated. LDPE-nano TiO 2 composite films were prepared with 5.0wt% TiO 2 content by melt-extrusion. To simulate food contact environment, according to KFDA standards and specifications for food utensils, containers and packages, food simulants were selected with deionized water, 50% ethanol, 4% acetic acid and n-heptane and composite films were immersed in each food simulant at 70 o C, 30 min except n-heptane (25 o C, 60 min). A variety of material properties, including crystallinity, chemical bonds, surface morphology, mechanical, oxygen barrier and optical properties, of LDPEnano TiO 2 composite film were examined with and without the food simulants treatment. As a result, under regulated migration condition, LDPE-nano TiO 2 composite showed extremely stable in all properties tested in the study in contact with food simulants indicating that TiO 2 nanoparticles are physicochemically stable and quite compatible with LDPE. Results enable us to anticipate migration of TiO 2 will probably not occur. To evaluate influence of migration of TiO 2 on food stuffs, their color, pH and acidity were observed as well.