Transparent biodegradable composite plastic packaging film from TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers

In this research, we develop a method to create biodegradable food packaging films. Initially, TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber (TOCNF) undergoes sonication to produce well-dispersed single-strain nanofibers. These nanofibers are then blended with waterborne polyurethane (WPU) to enhance their extensibility. To further enhance compatibility between these two components, a non-ionic surfactant, Tween 80, is introduced into the TOCNF/WPU mixture to improve the dispersion of the WPU within the blend. The addition of Tween 80 significantly increases the transparency of the resulting film (Transmittance: 89.4 %, Haze: 2.2 %). Furthermore, the incorporation of the surfactant effectively reduces the formation of wrinkles and cracks during the film drying process, preventing adverse impacts on the film's barrier properties. The thin film further undergoes esterification crosslinking with citric acid to remove its hydrophilic groups for better water vapor barrier properties. The resulting bio-based packaging film exhibits remarkable transparency, strong biodegradability, and superior gas-barrier properties (water vapor and oxygen) compared to commonly used food packaging.