Bio-based polyolefin composites and functional films for reducing total carbon footprint

Abstract

The utilization of bio-based renewable and sustainable materials for industrial application is pursued aggressively by multiple research entities and manufacturing companies. Effective sequestration of CO2 by sugarcane plantation as a first step, which is then converted to green polyolefin, reduces greenhouse gases effect on global warming. This article addresses bio-based polyethylene composites and functional films for flexible packaging and personal care product applications. The bio-based polyethylene composite films, obtained by melt compounding of thermoplastic cross-linked starch as filler for film casting, show relatively low film modulus, peak stress and total energy to break even at a high level of filler inclusion. In comparison, petroleum-based polyethylene filled with CaCO3 exhibits unusually high film modulus and total energy absorption except for film peak stress. The bio-based polyethylene composite film elongation ranges from 829% for the neat bio-based polyethylene to 522% for the film containing 30% thermoplastic cross-linked starch, whereas petroleum-based polyethylene composite films as a control show relatively small changes in film elongation with and without CaCO3 filler. The scanning electron microscopy results revealed a majority of filler is in micrometer sizes in the bio-based PE composite films and an open porous network existed for breathable films containing CaCO3 as filler.