Preparation and Characterization of Poly(L-Lactide-Co-ε-Caprolactone) Copolymer for Food Packaging Application

Abstract:

Biodegradable poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLA-PCL) copolymers were synthesized via solution polymerization by varying the feed composition of L-lactide (LLA) and ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) (LLA/ ε-CL= 1/0, 1/1, 1/2, and 1/3). PLA-PCL film was produced by solution mixing. The films were characterized by thermal property, mechanical property, and barrier behavior tests to evaluate the effect of the PCL. The differential scanning calorimetry analyses revealed the micro-domain structure in the copolymer. The elongation at break of PLLA was improved significantly (p<0.05) in PLA-PCL copolymer while the tensile strength decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increase of PCL content. WVP of PLA-PCL films significantly decreased (p< 0.05) when compared with that of neat PLLA film. When the feed ratio of PLA-PCL copolymer increased from 1/0 to 1/3, WVP of PLA-PCL films increased from 1.85±0.15 (×10^-11 gm/m²sPa) to 2.83±0.26 (×10^-11 gm/m²sPa). The results showed that PLA-PCL copolymer can be a novel film for food packaging applications.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 779-780)
• Pages: 231-234
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.779-780.231
• Online since: September 2013
• Authors: Ming Wei Yuan, Yu Yue Qin, Ji Yi Yang, Yan Wu, Ming Long Yuan, Hong Li Li
• Keywords: Copolymer, Food Packaging, Mechanical Property, Poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone), Water Vapor Permeability

References

[1] M. Jamshidian, E.A. Tehrany, M. Imran, M.J. Akhtar, F. Cleymand and S. Desobry: J. Food Eng. Vol. 110 (2012), pp.380-389.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2011.12.034

[2] M.A. Del Nobile, A. Conte, G.G. Buonocore, A.L. Incoronato, A. Massaro and O. Panza: J. Food Eng. Vol. 93 (2009), pp.1-6.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2008.12.022

[3] S.I. Hong, W.Y. Choi, S.Y. Cho, S.H. Jung, B.Y. Shin and H.J. Park: Polym. Degrad. Stabil. Vol. 94 (2009), pp.1876-1881.

[4] G. Kale, T. Kijchavengkul, R. Auras, M. Rubino, S.E. Selke and S.P. Singh: Macromol. Biosci. Vol. 7(2007), pp.255-277.

DOI: 10.1002/mabi.200600168

[5] W.Y. Choi, C.M. Lee and H. J. Park: LWT- Food Sci. Technol. Vol. 39(2006), pp.591-597.

[6] ASTM. (2001). Standard test method for tensile properties of thin plastic sheeting: D882, Annual book of ASTM Standards. Philadelphia, USA: ASTM.

[7] V. Guillard, B. Broyart, C. Bonazzi, S. Guilbert and N. Gontard: J. Food Sci. Vol. 68(2003), pp.2267-2277.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2003.tb05758.x

[8] V.P. Martino, A. Jime'nez and R.A. Ruseckaite: J. Appl. Polym. Sci. Vol. 112(2009), p.2010-(2018).

[9] V. Siracusa, I. Blanco, S. Romani, U. Tylewicz, P. Rocculi and M.D. Rosa: J. Appl. Polym. Sci. Vol. 125(2012), p. E390-E401.

DOI: 10.1002/app.36829