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Title: | Fabrication of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)/ZnO Nanocomposite Films for Active Packaging Applications: Impact of ZnO Type on Structure-Property Dynamics | Authors: | VANHEUSDEN, Chris Samyn , Pieter Vackier, Thijs Steenackers, Hans D'HAEN, Jan PEETERS, Roos BUNTINX, Mieke |
Issue Date: | 2024 | Publisher: | MDPI | Source: | POLYMERS, 16 (13) (Art N° 1861) | Abstract: | Bio-based and biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have great potential as sustainable packaging materials. The incorporation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) could further improve their functional properties by providing enhanced barrier and antimicrobial properties, although current literature lacks details on how the characteristics of ZnO influence the structure-property relationships in PHA/ZnO nanocomposites. Therefore, commercial ZnO NPs with different morphologies (rod-like, spherical) and silane surface modification are incorporated into poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) via extrusion and compression molding. All ZnO NPs are homogeneously distributed in the PHBHHx matrix at 1, 3 and 5 wt.%, but finer dispersion is achieved with modified ZnO. No chemical interactions between ZnO and PHBHHx are observed due to a lack of hydroxyl groups on ZnO. The fabricated nanocomposite films retain the flexible properties of PHBHHx with minimal impact of ZnO NPs on crystallization kinetics and the degree of crystallinity (53 to 56%). The opacity gradually increases with ZnO loading, while remaining translucent up to 5 wt.% ZnO and providing an effective UV barrier. Improved oxygen barrier and antibacterial effects against S. aureus are dependent on the intrinsic characteristics of ZnO rather than its morphology. We conclude that PHBHHx retains its favorable processing properties while producing nanocomposite films that are suitable as flexible active packaging materials. | Notes: | Buntinx, M (corresponding author), Hasselt Univ, Inst Mat Res IMO IMOMEC, Mat & Packaging Res & Serv, Wetenschapspark 27, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium. chris.vanheusden@uhasselt.be; pieter.samyn@sirris.be; thijs.vackier@kuleuven.be; hans.steenackers@kuleuven.be; jan.dhaen@uhasselt.be; roos.peeters@uhasselt.be; mieke.buntinx@uhasselt.be |
Keywords: | polyhydroxyalkanoates;poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate);melt processing;extrusionzinc oxidenano;composites;packaging | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/43497 | DOI: | 10.3390/polym16131861 | ISI #: | 001267996200001 | Rights: | 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
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Fabrication of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)_ZnO Nanocomposite Films for Active Packaging .pdf | Published version | 6.06 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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