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Antimicrobial Poly (Lactic Acid)/Copper Nanocomposites for Food Packaging Materials
Violeta Popescu1, Doina Prodan2, Stanca Cuc2
1Faculty of Materials Engineering and the Environment, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Bd. Muncii 103-105, 400641 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 25, 2023
Summary
New biodegradable food packaging utilizes polylactic acid (PLA) and copper clusters. These copper/PLA composites exhibit antibacterial properties, offering a promising alternative for sustainable food packaging solutions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Developing sustainable and functional food packaging is crucial.
- Biodegradable polymers like polylactic acid (PLA) offer environmental advantages.
- Incorporating antimicrobial agents can enhance food packaging safety and extend shelf life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize copper clusters.
- To develop and evaluate polylactic acid (PLA) composites containing copper clusters for food packaging.
- To investigate the effect of copper cluster concentration on composite properties.
Main Methods:
- Copper clusters synthesized using ascorbic acid and reactive milling in polyethylene glycols (PEGs).
- Characterization via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy.
- Copper/PLA composites evaluated using FT-IR, mechanical testing, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), saline absorption, contact angle, and antibacterial assays.
Main Results:
- Copper/PEG concentration influenced composite properties.
- Mechanical properties decreased with increasing Copper/PEG concentration.
- Lowest saline absorption at 1% Cu; decreased contact angle with higher PEG 600-Cu concentration.
- Composites demonstrated antibacterial properties against all tested strains.
Conclusions:
- Copper/PLA composites show potential as biodegradable food packaging.
- The concentration of copper clusters significantly impacts material characteristics.
- The developed materials possess desirable antibacterial properties for food safety applications.
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