Improving the packaging performance of low-density polyethylene with PCL/nanocellulose/copper(II)oxide barrier layer

Authors

  • Nenad Đorđević Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade
  • Aleksandar D. Marinković Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade
  • Predrag Živković Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade
  • Danijela V. Kovačević Belgrade Polytechnic
  • Suzana Dimitrijević Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade
  • Vanja Kokol Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor
  • Petar S. Uskoković Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade

Abstract

A novel double layered hybrid materials, consisting of low density polyethylene (LDPE) base layer and polycaprolactone (PCL) top layer containing surface modified nanocellulose (NC) based nanocomposites in 0.5 and 2 % loadings, were studied in order to design multipurpose packaging material. NC was covalently modified with maleic anhydride (MA) to obtain NCMA, and upon co-precipitation of copper (II) oxide (CuO) on NC and NCMA surface, NC-CuO and NCMA-CuO nanocomposite materials were produced. Two drying methods, conventional and lyophilization, were applied to investigate process influences on the properties of obtained hybrid material. Oxygen transmission rate and antimicrobial activity were determined for all produced hybrid materials. PE-PCL-NCMA-CuO-L2 exhibited the highest antifungal properties, indicating contribution of MA residual group and drying conditions (liophylisation) to achievement of 97 % reduction in cell viability of C. albicans. The sample with 2 % of NCMA-CuO, PE-PCL-NCMA-CuO2, demonstrated to be the most promising material regarding improvment in antibacterial and antifugal activity, as well as 16 % lower value of the oxygen transmission rate in comparison to pure LDPE.

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Published

2018-06-13

Issue

Vol. 50 No. 2 (2018)

Section

Articles