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Electron beam-mediated cross-linking of blown film-extruded biodegradable PGA/PBAT blends toward high toughness and low oxygen permeation
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Samantaray, Paresh Kumar, Ellingford, Christopher, Farris, Stefano, O’Sullivan, Donal, Tan, Bowen, Sun, Zhaoyang, McNally, Tony and Wan, Chaoying (2022) Electron beam-mediated cross-linking of blown film-extruded biodegradable PGA/PBAT blends toward high toughness and low oxygen permeation. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 10 (3). pp. 1267-1276. doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c07376 ISSN 2168-0485.
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WRAP-Electron-beam-mediated-crosslinking-blown-film-extruded-biodegradable-PGA-PBAT-toughness-low-oxygen-2022.pdf - Accepted Version - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (1417Kb) | Preview |
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c07376
Abstract
Due to its high crystallinity, tailored compostability, and superior barrier performance, poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) has great potential as a substitute for current single-use plastics used in food packaging applications and with a lower carbon footprint. However, its susceptibility to hydrolysis and mechanical brittleness hinders its direct suitability in packaging. In this work, we circumvent this limitation by first blending PGA with a thermoplastic polyester, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), and a glycidyl cross-linker via industrial-scale twin-screw extrusion and then converting to a film by blown film extrusion. The surface of the films was then chemically cross-linked using electron beam treatment (EBT) to impart excellent barrier properties. Here, the electron beam plays a dual role. Firstly, it cross-links the surface of the films and improves the oxygen and moisture barrier performance, both improved due to blending with PBAT. Second, it does not compromise the toughness or extension at break of the polymer blend, both desirable for flexible packaging applications. A dosage of 250 kGy EBT resulted in the film having an oxygen barrier permeation of 57.0–59.8 cm3 mm m–2 24 h–1 atm–1 and a water vapor permeation of 26.8 g m–2 24 h–1 while maintaining a high toughness of 75 MPa. At dosages higher than 300 kGy, inhomogeneities formed on the surface of the films and some degradation in the mechanical properties of the films is observed. This work highlights the possibility of deriving superior biopolymer barrier performance while retaining the mechanical properties required for food packaging using a combination of blending and electron beam treatment, both scalable processes.
Item Type: | Journal Article | |||||||||
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Subjects: | Q Science > QC Physics T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) T Technology > TP Chemical technology |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Engineering > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group) | |||||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Electron beams , Electron beams -- Industrial applications, Plastic films, Plastics -- Extrusion, Biopolymers | |||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering | |||||||||
Publisher: | American Chemical Society | |||||||||
ISSN: | 2168-0485 | |||||||||
Official Date: | 24 January 2022 | |||||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 10 | |||||||||
Number: | 3 | |||||||||
Page Range: | pp. 1267-1276 | |||||||||
DOI: | 10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c07376 | |||||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | |||||||||
Publication Status: | Published | |||||||||
Reuse Statement (publisher, data, author rights): | “This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see [insert ACS Articles on Request author-directed link to Published Work, see ACS Articles on Request ].” | |||||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | |||||||||
Copyright Holders: | © 2022 American Chemical Society | |||||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 11 January 2022 | |||||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 10 January 2023 | |||||||||
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant: |
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