UV protective poly(lactic acid)/rosin films for sustainable packaging

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Sustainable Packaging

Background:

• Biopolymers like Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) are alternatives to fossil-fuel plastics.
• PLA has limitations including brittleness and poor UV resistance, hindering food packaging applications.
• Improving UV shielding is crucial for preventing PLA degradation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate eco-friendly PLA/rosin (RS) biocomposite films.
• To enhance UV shielding, ductility, and oxygen barrier properties of PLA.
• To assess the potential of PLA-RS films for sustainable food packaging.

Main Methods:

• Solution casting technique used to fabricate PLA-RS biocomposite films with varying rosin content (1-20 wt%).
• Films produced with an average thickness of 50μm.
• Characterization of UV shielding, ductility, and oxygen barrier properties.

Main Results:

• PLA-RS films demonstrated significant UV light barrier properties, blocking ~98% of UV-B, ~92% of UV-A, and ~53% of visible light.
• Complete blockage of UV-C transmission was observed.
• Rosin incorporation improved PLA's ductility and oxygen barrier characteristics.

Conclusions:

• PLA-RS biocomposite films exhibit excellent UV shielding and improved mechanical and barrier properties.
• These enhanced properties indicate significant potential for sustainable food packaging applications.
• The developed biocomposite offers a promising alternative to conventional plastics.