Packaging related properties of commercially available biopolymers – An overview of the status quo

Abstract

Abstract. Several commercially available thermoplastic biopolymers were processed in a continuous extrusion line. The molecular weight, crystallinity, and mechanical and permeation properties of the cast films were determined in order to evaluate the status quo of biopolymers currently commercially available. The biopolymers that were evaluated were polylactic acid (PLA), several polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) (Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (PHBHB), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)), thermoplastic starch (TPS), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polycaprolactone (PCL) and biobased polyethylene (BioPE). Due to its potential for biobased production, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) was also analysed. Mechanical analysis showed the PLA and PHA films had high strength and extremely low elongation at break. These were also the materials with the highest molecular weights. Films made of TPU, PCL, TPS, PBAT and BioPE had a significantly lower Young's modulus and significantly higher elongation at break; these films had comparatively low molecular weights. Permeation measurements showed that PHA films, and particularly PHBV, had the lowest oxygen and water vapour permeability of the biopolymers that were analysed. The biopolymers BioPE, TPS, PCL, TPU and PBAT were highly permeable to oxygen, and had comparatively low molecular weight. The biopolymers TPU, PBS, PBAT, PCL and TPS were highly permeable to water vapour.

Effect of pine resin derivatives on the structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of Mater‐Bi type bioplastic

“…where ΔH m m is the melting enthalpy and ΔH CC is the cold crystallization enthalpy of PBAT. is the calculated melting enthalpy of purely crystalline PBAT, being 114 J/g …”

Effect of different biopolymers and polymers on the mechanical and permeation properties of extruded PHBV cast films

“…PCL was chosen due to its biodegradability, high flexibility and high compatibility with many other polymers . However, the high permeability of PCL to gases and water vapor currently limits its use for certain applications . PBS was selected because of its flexibility, biodegradability and high compatibility with other biodegradable polymers, and because it can potentially be biobased .…”

Effect of Storage Time on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Starch/Bentonite Nanocomposites

“…The emerging threat of depleting fossil fuel resources and the increasing public awareness for environmental pollution resulted in vivid interest in developing bio‐based polymers . Starch‐based materials seem to be good alternatives for many applications due to their wide availability, low cost, renewability, and biodegradability …”

“…The emerging threat of depleting fossil fuel resources and the increasing public awareness for environmental pollution resulted in vivid interest in developing bio-based polymers. [1][2][3][4] Starch-based materials seem to be good alternatives for many applications due to their wide availability, low cost, renewability, and biodegradability. [1,2,5,6] Native starch is a semi-crystalline polymer composed of polymers with repeating 1,4-α-D-glucopyranosyl units, called amylose and amylopectin.…”