Physical Polymer Surface Modification Methods and Applications in Food Packaging Polymers

Abstract

Continued innovations in the polymer industry have made polymer surface modification methods a subject of intense research. The importance and necessity of surface modification of plastics are explained, and the advantages of physical surface treatments over the less-sophisticated chemical methods are outlined. Currently available physical surface modification methods for food packaging polymers are reviewed from the food packaging perspective. These physical surface modification methods include flame, corona discharge, UV, gamma-ray, electron beam, ion beam, plasma, and laser treatments. The principle of operation of each method is briefly described, and the advantages and disadvantages of each technique are cited. The extent to which each of these methods can produce the specific modifications desired is discussed. Furthermore, the effects of each treatment on barrier, mechanical, and adhesion properties of food packaging polymers are also examined. Finally, an overview of economic aspects of sophisticated surface modification techniques, including ion beam, plasma, and laser treatments, is presented.

Nonthermal Plasma Inactivation of Food-Borne Pathogens

“…There is a significant scope for NTP sterilization of the particulate foods, particularly after the ban of ethylene oxide gases. This technology has also been successfully applied for the surface sterilization of packaging material (Deilmann et al 2008) and also their functional modification for imparting desired properties (Ozdemir et al 1999;Güleç et al 2006). A considerable body of data has already accumulated in recent years addressing the efficacy of NTP in inactivating microorganisms on the surfaces of abiotic materials such as glass and synthetic membranes.…”

Plasma modification of polyolefin surfaces

“…However, they have limitations for some applications because of their low surface energy, which results in poor printability, bonding and coating properties. To improve these functional characteristics, various surface-treatment techniques, including plasma, corona and fl ame discharge, photons, UV, ozone, laser, ion and electron beam irradiation, and wet chemical treatment with strong acids and bases have been studied, and in some cases applied industrially 1,2 . However, each of these methods has drawbacks, including etching and disposal of hazardous waste for wet chemical treatments and non-specifi c and shortterm functionalization.…”

Humidity adsorption kinetics of a trypsin gel film

“…Modification of surface with natural polymers and proteins using adsorption techniques [1] is a very important issue in materials science and technology for biocompatibility [2] of biomedical devices [3], biosensor [4] and food manufacturing technologies [5,6]. Other applications include coating of surfaces for protection against corrosive processes [7] or adverse environmental effects which appears to be important in food packaging [8] and other value-added biological.…”