The effects of electron beam radiation on material properties and degradation of commercial PBAT/PLA blend

Abstract

This work investigates the potential application of e-beam radiation for sterilization of food packaging made of commercial polyester blend of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) and polylactide known under the trade name Ecovio 23B1. Ecovio film was irradiated at doses of 5, 13, and 26 kGy and the effect of sterilization on the microorganism inactivation ability was performed. The influence of radiation doses on structural and packaging properties such as tensile strength, barrier, and migration properties was also studied. 1 H NMR and FTIR analysis revealed no significant changes in the polymer structure, however, the molar mass of irradiated samples decreased with increasing radiation dose. This result indicated the occurrence of degradation process during radiation, which was confirmed by the thermal analysis and accelerated enzymatic degradation. The packaging properties did not changed significantly and the overall migration for 10% ethanol, isooctane, and MPPO was below the limit for all of the studied samples.

Effect of Electron-Beam Radiation and Other Sterilization Techniques on Structural, Mechanical and Microbiological Properties of Thermoplastic Starch Blend

“…The e-beam radiation has the ability to inactivate both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, however, some endospores are resistant even to high doses of radiation [29,30] and some additional heat treatment is required for the complete microorganism inactivation. In our previous studies [6] we proved that the e-beam radiation is effective in microorganism inactivation on a hydrophobic surface of the PBAT/PLA polyester blend. According to the current results, it seems that it is also possible to sterilize the hydrophilic surface of the TPS/PBS blend, even by using a very small dose of radiation.…”

“…Some of the polymers (both natural and synthetic) treated with superheated steam, hot air or high temperature undergo deformation, thermal and oxidative degradation and in many cases hydrolysis if they are susceptible. In those circumstances better results might be provided by other methods such as: ethylene oxide [2], hydrogen peroxide [3], ethyl alcohol [4], gamma [5] and electron-beam (e-beam) radiation [6], plasma [7]. Moreover, the process of choosing the right method is even more complicated, if we look for the sterilization technique dedicated for food packaging.…”

Durability of LDPE/UHMWPE Composites under Accelerated Degradation

“…The great interest paid to the degradation of polyolefins, the polymers with the largest application areas, explains the deep attention on the investigation of their ageing strengths, which depends strongly on the molecular configuration [1,2]. The addition of protectors like antioxidants [3], active fillers [4,5], and component blending [6][7][8] enlarges the material lifetime, because the mixing components allow the appropriate interactions between the phases and delay of oxidation reactions. The material performances related to the ageing progress intrinsically concern certain functional features related to the molecular structure [9].…”

Synthesis of hydrogels with a gradient crosslinking structure by electron beam radiation to an aqueous solution of poly(sodium acrylate)

“…The radiation of a high-energy ray is often used for the modification of various polymers; for example, superabsorbent, [20] the functionalization of membranes [21] and fluoropolymers, [22] patterned polymer brush, [23] biomass polymers, [24,25] biomedical polymers, [26][27][28][29] and conductive and electrolyte polymers. [30][31][32][33] Among many studies on manufacturing processes of polymers using a high-energy ray in the literature, most are either lithography using thin films.…”