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Published on: June 30, 2018
Engineering crystalline architecture in PLA/PBAT-based blend films through PDLA and talc for high-performance
Smrithy Pullarkad Bharathan1, Mahammad Riyaz Guthige1, Sunny Kumar1
1Food Engineering and Packaging Technology Division, Defence Institute of Bio-Defence Technologies, Mysore, 570011, Karnataka, India.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|July 6, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a dual-nucleation strategy using poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA) and talc to enhance polylactic acid/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) films for sustainable food packaging.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Sustainable Packaging
Background:
- Polylactic acid (PLA) films have limitations in thermal stability, barrier properties, and brittleness for food packaging.
- Blending PLA with poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) improves flexibility but not PLA's inherent low crystallinity, affecting performance.
- There is a need for enhanced PLA-based materials to compete with conventional polyolefins in packaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a scalable dual-nucleation strategy for PLA/PBAT blend films.
- To improve the crystallization behavior, thermal stability, and barrier properties of PLA/PBAT films.
- To evaluate the potential of these enhanced films for sustainable food packaging applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of PLA/PBAT blend films with varying poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA) and talc content via blown film extrusion.
- Utilized Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for material analysis.
- Conducted accelerated shelf-life testing of banana chips to assess packaging performance.
Main Results:
- Dual-nucleation with PDLA and talc successfully induced stereocomplex crystallization and accelerated heterogeneous nucleation.
- The modified PLA/PBAT films exhibited increased crystallinity, improved mechanical properties, and enhanced thermal stability.
- Reduced water vapor and oxygen transmission rates were observed, alongside better moisture control, texture retention, and oxidative stability in packaged banana chips.
Conclusions:
- The PDLA-talc dual-nucleation strategy effectively enhances the crystallization and functional performance of PLA/PBAT blend films.
- These nucleated films demonstrate significant improvements in thermal and barrier properties, making them suitable for food packaging.
- The developed PLA/PBAT films represent a promising sustainable, bio-based alternative for the food packaging industry.
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