Fabrication and Characterization of Polyglycerol Fatty Acid Esters/Polyethylene Antifogging Film

Abstract

AbstractThe antifogging polyglycerol fatty acid esters (PGFE)/polyethylene (PE) film with polyethylene wax emulsions (WE1) as a dispersant was fabricated using twin‐screw extruder and then extrusion blow molding. The study was conducted to investigate the influence that different levels of PGFE on the antifogging performance, mechanical, optical, thermostability and cross‐section microstructures of PGFE/PE film. The modified polymer film had been characterized by contact angle measurement (CAM), thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed that WE1 and PGFE could mix evenly with PE resin. Compared with 100% low‐density polyethylene film, PGFE incorporation improved antifogging performance, hydrophilicity, haze and thermostability, however, decreased light transmittance and tensile strength. When the content of PGFE is 2%, PGFE/PE film has a long lasting antifogging performance, high‐quality mechanical stability and light transmittance. It has a great potential to be applied in food packaging.Practical ApplicationsBecause of the utilization as antifogging, antistatic additive, lubricant and plasticizer of polyglycerol fatty acid esters (PGFE) in synthetic resin and plastics processing, it is receiving much more attention. Investigation of the antifogging performance in PGFE in polymer matrix has recently been considered. Study of the antifogging and physical parameters is one of the ways to find the influence of antifoggant on the antifogging, mechanical and structural properties of the films. In this work, high‐temperature antifogging property, water contact angle, morphology of water droplets on the film surface, mechanical and optical behaviors of film samples affected by the concentration of PGFE were studied. Investigation of scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the film allows a better understanding of film structure in the process of film fabrication. More importantly, the study solves the uneven distribution of antifoggant in the polymer resin.