3 - Thermoplastic nanobiocomposites for rigid and flexible food packaging applications

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces the general concept of barrier properties and the need for these in food packaging applications and also describes the phenomenology of transport in polymers. The biomaterials that show a lot of potential in food packaging applications are directly extracted from biomass. These materials have excellent barrier properties to oxygen under dry conditions and are transparent. The chapter discusses the novel plastic strategies and technologies for monolayer packaging. Novel developments in plastic materials come from five different sources, namely, new synthetic polymers, biomass-derived polymers, polymer blends, nano-composites, and surface or coating technologies. Currently, polymeric materials for high barrier applications have been challenged with a broad range of stringent property requirements including: ease of processing; higher barrier properties to permanent gases, moisture and low molecular weight organic compounds; excellent chemical resistance; perm-selectivity; low relative humidity dependence for the barrier performance; and ease of recycling, biodegradability or compostability. The chapter also reviews the role of the nano-composites and the nano-biocomposites as the most promising monolayer technology currently available for enhancing barrier properties and designing sustainable and more efficient active and bioactive systems for current and future food packaging applications.