| Autor: |
O'Loughlin, Jennie, Doherty, Dylan, Herward, Bevin, McGleenan, Cormac, Mahmud, Mehreen, Bhagabati, Purabi, Boland, Adam Neville, Freeland, Brian, Rochfort, Keith D., Kelleher, Susan M., Fahy, Samantha, Gaughran, Jennifer |
| Zdroj: |
Sustainability (2071-1050); Nov2023, Vol. 15 Issue 21, p15312, 27p |
| Abstrakt: |
The biodegradable biopolymer polylactic acid (PLA) has been used in the recent past in single-use packaging as a suitable replacement for non-biodegradable fossil fuel-based plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Under FDA and EU regulations, lactic acid (LA), the building block of PLA, is considered safe to use as a food contact material. The mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of PLA are, however, major challenges for this material. PLA is a brittle material with a Young's modulus of 2996–3750 MPa and an elongation at break of 1.3–7%. PLA has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 60 °C, exhibiting structural distortion at this temperature. The water permeability of PLA can lead to hydrolytic degradation of the material. These properties can be improved with biopolymer blending and composites. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), for instance, increases the thermal stability of PLA while decreasing the water permeability by up to 59%. Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most common plastics in reusable food containers. This study will compare PLA-based blends and composites to the currently used PP as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based plastics. The end-of-life options for PLA-based food containers are considered, as is the commercial cost of replacing PP with PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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