Bio-based poly(ethylene furanoate)/ZnO transparent thin films with improved water vapor barrier and antibacterial properties for food packaging application

Abstract

Poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) biocomposite films incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NPs) were prepared using a solvent casting method. The ZnO NPs were homogeneously dispersed within the PEF films with the aid of γ−aminopropyltriethoxylsilane (APTES). The water vapor barrier, optical transmittance and antimicrobial properties of the PEF/ZnO films were tested. Water vapor permeability (WVP) and transmittance in the visible (400–800 nm) region of control PEF film were 6.92 × 10–12 g·m m−2 · s·Pa and 87.3%, respectively. WVP value of PEF films decreased 43.2% through ZnO NPs compounding. On the contrary, transmittance of PEF films decreased 6.8% due to the absorption and scattering of ZnO NPs. In addition, the PEF film with modified ZnO NPs exhibited a bacteriostatic rate up to 97.0% after 3 h. Thus, the PEF/ZnO films show great potential in the field of food packaging.