Abstract
The increasing demand for new packages with increased shelf life properties has stimulated the increase of research in the active packaging sector. The use of antimicrobial agents requires an in-depth study of their properties to avoid loss of efficiency of the polymer processing. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the preparation of an 18% ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) nanocomposite and zinc oxide (ZnO) as microbicidal nanoparticle, prepared in a monosulfon extruder. The nanoparticle was modified with octadecylamine and EVA 18 nanocomposite films were prepared and compared to the systems containing modified nanoparticle. These new materials were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), Time Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to investigate the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on thermal properties, EVA crystallinity and antimicrobial effect. The TGA showed a tendency of increase of the thermal stability in different proportions of ZnO. DSC results did not show significant changes in thermal parameters. The XRD analysis showed an increase in the degree of crystallinity of the nanocomposites in relation to the EVA matrix and change in the crystallinity with the increase of ZnO percentages. DMA analysis indicates change in structural organization through the variation of storage modulus, loss, and tan delta. Time domain NMR data corroborate with XRD data through the change in molecular mobility.
Highlights
IntroductionThe food packaging industry develops materials for preserving and protecting food from environmental factors starting from production site to the point of consumption
These new materials were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), Time Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to investigate the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on thermal properties, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) crystallinity and antimicrobial effect
The obtained films were characterized by the techniques of: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-ray Diffraction (XDR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Time Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (TD-NMR) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)
Summary
The food packaging industry develops materials for preserving and protecting food from environmental factors starting from production site to the point of consumption These traditional systems are reaching their limits regarding extending the shelf life of packaged foods. The purpose of the active packaging is to extend shelf life by applying various strategies, such as: oxygen removal, moisture control and addition of other active materials in its composition for food protection These developments in active packaging have led to advances in many industries, including late oxidation in sport supplements, controlled rate of respiration in vegetables and antimicrobial action [4]. Ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA) is a copolymer with wide industrial applications due to its stable physicochemical properties, which make it distinct from other copolymers This copolymer has low gas permeability and, it is used in the packaging industry in the form of film [29] [30]. The proposal of the present work addresses the method of processing, which includes compatibility with the polymer matrix, types of pathogens affected and mechanical properties of the new packaging
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