Glass Melting Research Articles

Influence of exfoliation method of graphene on physical properties of graphene/High Density Polyethylene nanocomposites: Semiconductor‐like electrical conductivity, glass transition, and melting temperature

AbstractDespite the wide range of applications of polyethylene (PE), many efforts are being made to improve its properties with carbon allotropes such as graphene. The addition of graphene can improve the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of this polymer. Through the present study, the effects of exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (XGNPs) and few‐layer graphene (FLG) on the electrical conductivity and thermal properties of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) were investigated. XGNPs were synthesized by ultrasonication of graphite nanoplatelets, and FLG was synthesized by shear exfoliation of flake graphite. Finally, HDPE powder particles were coated with dispersed XGNPs and FLG. Then XGNPs/HDPE nanocomposites and FLG/HDPE nanocomposites were fabricated by compression molding. The morphology, structural, electrical, and thermal properties of the graphite, graphene, PE, and nanocomposites were observed and comparatively studied by transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, x‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and conductivity measurements. The graphene's D, G, and 2D bands were revealed by Raman spectroscopy of nanocomposites and verified the existence of the graphene in the polymer matrix. XRD revealed that the graphene did not affect the original crystalline structure of the HDPE matrix, and the Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the nanocomposite was obtained without the formation of any functional groups. The electrical properties of the nanocomposites were comparatively studied. After adding XGNPs (7 wt%), volumetric electrical conductivity in a sample reached from 10−16 to 10−3 S/m. The highest volumetric conductivity, 1.1 × 10−2 S/m, that is, semiconductor‐like conductivity, was achieved after adding 7 wt% of FLG. The glass transition temperatures (Tg), melting temperatures (Tm), and thermal stability were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and TGA, respectively, and it was concluded that Tg and Tm increase by adding the graphene. This study shows that shear exfoliation of graphene is the best and the most facile method to prepare mass‐scale graphene for the production of graphene/polyolefin nanocomposites.Highlights Two types of graphene were produced by using sonication and shear‐exfoliation. HDPE powders were coated with two types of graphene and then hot pressed. The method of (G) preparation is crucialparameter on electrical conductivity. In the sample containing 7 wt% (XGNPs), the highest conductivity is 10−3 S/m. In the sample containing 7 wt% (FLG), the highest conductivity is 10−2 S/m.

LiTFSI salt concentration effect for well‐balanced ion transport and physical properties in nanocellulose‐reinforced PEO#600 solid electrolytes

AbstractPoly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with an oxygen group serves as a reactive site for the pathway of lithium‐ion transport. Reducing the PEO crystal domain in solid electrolytes is an extremely efficient approach for enhancing the mobility of ions. The present study applied various EO/Li molar ratios to modify the physical and electrochemical properties of PEO nanocomposite reinforced by nanocellulose. An elevated lithium salt concentration causes a gradual decline in crystallinity and mechanical strength. The electrochemical performance of the 13 EO/Li molar ratio voltammogram and charge–discharge shows efficient Li‐ion transport with 5.6 × 10−4 S/cm conductivity at room temperature and 131 mA h g−1 initial discharge capacity. The shifting glass transition and melting point at lower temperatures (−40.5 to −44.5°C and 45.3–43.8°C) suggest greater ion mobility throughout the large non‐crystalline structure. Lithium ions are limited by membrane weakening and re‐crystallization caused by high lithium salt (EM_11) concentrations. EM_13 has the highest specific capacity, operating voltage, and lithium transfer number depends on balanced electrochemical performance and physical features. XPS surface chemistry analysis explains LiF, Li2CO3, and Li2O solid electrolyte interfaces (SEI) in EM samples. A lower Li2O (11.62 at.%) than LiF (38.4 at.%) after cycling enhances Li‐ion diffusion and cell reversibility.

Cold Consolidation of Pharmaceutical Waste Glass Powders Through Alkali Activation and Binder Jet 3D Printing

The recent COVID-19 emergency has led to an impressive increase in the production of pharmaceutical vials. This has led to a parallel increase in the amounts of waste glass; manufacturers typically recover material from faulty containers by crushing, giving origin to an unrecyclable fraction. Coarse fragments are effectively reused as feedstock for glass melting; on the contrary, fine powders (<100 microns), contaminated by metal and ceramic particles due to the same crushing operations, are landfilled. Landfilling is also suggested for pharmaceutical containers after medical use. This study aims at proposing new opportunities for the recycling of fine glass particles, according to recent findings concerning alkali activation of pharmaceutical glass, combined with novel processing, i.e., binder jetting printing. It has already been shown that pharmaceutical glass, immersed in low-molarity alkaline solution (not exceeding 2.5 M NaOH), undergoes surface dissolution and hydration; cold consolidation is later achieved, upon drying at 40–60 °C, by a condensation reaction occurring at hydrated layers of adjacent particles. Binder jetting printing does not realize a full liquid immersion of the glass powders, as the attacking solution is selectively sprayed on a powder bed. Here, we discuss the tuning of key parameters, such as the molarity of the attacking solution (from 2.5 to 10 M) and the granulometry of the waste glass, to obtain stable printed blocks. In particular, the stability depends on the formation of bridges between adjacent particles consisting of strong T-O bonds (Si-O-Si, Al-O-Si, B-O-Si), while degradation products (concentrating Na ions) remain as a secondary phase, solubilized by immersion in boiling water. Such stability is achieved by operating at 5 M NaOH.

Impact of cellulose enrichment on castor oil polyurethane sheets: A path to greener materials

AbstractDue to the growing concern over the depletion of the global crude oil stock and environmental issues, the replacement of petroleum‐based polymers with environmentally benign alternatives derived from renewable resource has attracted great attention. In the current study, four different polyurethane (PU) sheets were synthesized from unmodified castor oil (CO) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), incorporating cellulose nanofibers (CNF) as a filler. The mixture consisting molar ratio of CO, HDI, and CNF in a ratio of 1:5:0.8 yielded the best results. This formulation achieved a tensile strength of 22.55 MPa and an elongation at break of 55.9%. Additionally, the resulting PU sheets exhibited excellent thermal properties, with a glass transition temperature (Tg) and melting temperature (Tm) that were notably enhanced, further highlighting the effectiveness of this specific mixture in producing high‐performance, bio‐based PUs. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal, and mechanical characterizations indicated that both reinforced and unreinforced PU exhibited properties within acceptable ranges. Given the bio‐based origins of CO and cellulose, the synthesized polymers are biodegradable and suitable for biomaterial applications. The study confirms that the bio‐based origins of CO and cellulose render synthesized polymers biodegradable, suitable for various biomaterial applications.

Thermo‐rheological snapshot of melter feed conversion to glass

AbstractSlurry feed charged into an electric melter creates a layer of reacting and melting material (termed cold cap) that floats on the surface of molten glass. The rheological behavior of heated melter feed affects the spreading of slurry at the top of the cold cap and the stability of the primary foam, affecting cold‐cap coverage and melter plenum temperatures. The apparent viscosity of a high‐alumina high‐level waste melter feed was assessed by thermomechanical analysis, high‐temperature viscometer, and the hot stage microscopy method, yielding viscosity estimates from ≈107.5 Pa s at 550°C to ≈102.5 Pa s at 1050°C. As the temperature of feed materials increased, their state changed from rigid solid to dilatant fluid, to pseudoplastic bubbly liquid with dissolving solids, to fully developed foam, and finally to Newtonian glass melt.

Study on the Characteristics of Molten Glass in a Float Glass Process with a New Structure.

Glass is one of the most common materials in society, and the float glass process is the main production method of glass used at present, which involves adopting a melting furnace with a single cooler. However, this structure has been difficult to fit to the requirements of modern glass production, such as producing multiple types of glass and large-scale production. Therefore, a large-tonnage float glass melting furnace with a double cooler is studied, which is rising in popularity in the glass sector. The aim of this paper is to clarify the characteristics of the new glass furnace. A numerical simulation technique is applied to analyze the thermal and flow characteristics of molten glass in the new structure so as to clarify the feasibility of production by checking the temperature distribution and flow field of the molten glass. The results show that the new structure also exhibits flow behavior similar to the original structure in the branch line. Due to the addition of the branch line, the stability of the temperature is improved, with a 60 K and 43 K difference between the surface and bottom in the main and branch lines, respectively. Similar stability is shown in the flow field, specifically low acceleration in the cooler (0.006 m/s2). The bubble clarification time is about 2700 s, less than the 3000 s required for flow. The parameters of the branch line meet the requirements of glass production. In theory, a glass-melting furnace with a double cooler has the capacity to produce two types of glass.

Mixed‐alkali effect in the thermal collapse and melting kinetics of Zeolite X

AbstractThe thermal stability of zeolites underlies their many applications. Structural collapse usually occurs through a series of reactions, involving an initial low‐density amorphous state (LDA), a high‐density melt (HDA), and, eventually, a dense recrystallization product. The LDA–HDA transition resembles a glass melting process; the HDA phase can sometimes be quenched into a glass. Using isothermal as well as nonisothermal in situ observation methodology on the faujasitic zeolite X and its potassium‐for‐sodium ion‐exchanged derivatives, we find a pronounced mixed‐alkali effect in the characteristic nonisothermal transition temperatures as well as in the isothermal reaction timescale of the LDA–HDA transition. The latter is taken as being directly related to the viscosity of the liquid into which the zeolite framework is melting; the apparent viscosity associated with this melting process was found to reach as high as 1015 Pa.s at 740°C. The observed mixed‐alkali effect is similar to the one observed in the dynamics of common oxide glasses and their corresponding melts.

Structural and Dynamical Effects of the CaO/SrO Substitution in Bioactive Glasses.

Silicate glasses containing silicon, sodium, phosphorous, and calcium have the ability to promote bone regeneration and biodegrade as new tissue is generated. Recently, it has been suggested that adding SrO can benefit tissue growth and silicate glass dissolution. Motivated by these recent developments, the effect of SrO/CaO-CaO/SrO substitution on the local structure and dynamics of Si-Na-P-Ca-O oxide glasses has been studied in this work. Differential thermal analysis has been performed to determine the thermal stability of the glasses after the addition of strontium. The local structure has been studied by neutron diffraction augmented by Reverse Monte Carlo simulation, and the local dynamics by neutron Compton scattering and Raman spectroscopy. Differential thermal analysis has shown that SrO-containing glasses have lower glass transition, melting, and crystallisation temperatures. Moreover, the addition of the Sr2+ ions decreased the thermal stability of the glass structure. The total neutron diffraction augmented by the RMC simulation revealed that Sr played a similar role as Ca in the glass structure when substituted on a molar basis. The bond length and the coordination number distributions of the network modifiers and network formers did not change when SrO (x = 0.125, 0.25) was substituted for CaO (25-x). However, the network connectivity increased in glass with 12.5 mol% CaO due to the increased length of the Si-O-Si interconnected chain. The analysis of Raman spectra revealed that substituting CaO with SrO in the glass structure dramatically enhances the intensity of the high-frequency band of 1110-2000 cm-1. For all glasses under investigation, the changes in the relative intensities of Raman bands and the distributions of the bond lengths and coordination numbers upon the SrO substitution were correlated with the values of the widths of nuclear momentum distributions of Si, Na, P, Ca, O, and Sr. The widths of nuclear momentum distributions were observed to soften compared to the values observed and simulated in their parent metal-oxide crystals. The widths of nuclear momentum distributions, obtained from fitting the experimental data to neutron Compton spectra, were related to the amount of disorder of effective force constants acting on individual atomic species in the glasses.

Sintering activation energy and low-temperature sinterable process of Boron-lanthanide glass/Li2Zn3Ti4O12 ceramic composite systems for LTCC technology

This work investigates the characteristics of wettability, activation energy for sintering, evolution of phase structure, and behavior during the low-temperature sintering process of B2O3-La2O3-MgO-TiO2 (BLMT) glass/Li2Zn3Ti4O12 ceramic composites for low temperature co-fried ceramics technology (LTCC). As the BLMT glass content increases from 0 to 10 wt%, the average sintering activation energy (Ea) of the composite decreases from 450 ± 8 to 356 ± 37 kJ/mol. There are two phases the primary Li2Zn3Ti4O12 phase and the secondary LaBO3 phase, the latter precipitates from the BLMT glass after sintering at 700 °C. This indicates that BLMT glass promotes the sintering of Li2Zn3Ti4O12 ceramic below 900 °C. In composites containing 20 wt% or more glass, sintering is governed by both liquid-phase sintering and reactive viscous sintering. As the BLMT glass content increases, the impact of viscous flow on the densification process becomes more pronounced. Simultaneously, when the glass content is greater than 20 wt%, the glass precipitates LaBO3, TiO2, and MgLaB5O10 phases between 700 and 750 °C. After 850 °C, the glass melts and reacts with Li2Zn3Ti4O12 phase to produce a new TiO2 phase. Accordingly, the activation energy (Ea) of sintering the composite material increases from 393 ± 17 to 667 ± 1 kJ/mol.

Functional Silsesquioxanes-Tailoring Hydrophobicity and Anti-Ice Properties of Polylactide in 3D Printing Applications.

To explore the tailoring of hydrophobicity in 3D-printed polylactide (PLA) composites for advanced applications using additive manufacturing (AM), this study focuses on the use of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing. PLA, a material derived from renewable sources, is favored for its eco-friendliness and user accessibility. Nonetheless, PLA's inherent hydrophilic properties result in moisture absorption, negatively affecting its performance. This research aims to modify PLA with organosilicon compounds to enhance its hydrophobic and anti-icing properties. Incorporating fluorinated siloxane derivatives led to significant increases in water contact angles by up to 39%, signifying successful hydrophobic modification. Mechanical testing demonstrated that the addition of organosilicon additives did not compromise the tensile strength of PLA and, in some instances, improved impact resistance, especially with the use of OSS-4OFP:2HEX:2TMOS, which resulted in an increase in the tensile strength value of 25% and increased impact strength by 20% compared to neat PLA. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis indicated that the modified PLA exhibited reduced cold crystallization temperatures without altering the glass transition or melting temperatures. These results suggest that organosilicon-modified PLA has the potential to expand the material's application in producing moisture and ice-resistant 3D-printed prototypes for various industrial uses, thereby facilitating the creation of more durable and versatile 3D-printed components.

Controlled growth of ruthenium dioxide nanostructures in borosilicate glass melts

Ruthenium, a fission product generated during the fission of uranium oxide fuel in a reactor, interacts with alkali metals such as sodium in the upper layer of the cold cap, forming a sodium ruthenate intermediate (NaxRuyOz), which promotes the crystallization of acicular RuO2 within the glass melt. During vitrification, RuO2 predominantly settles at the bottom of the melt owing to its high density and low solubility, significantly increasing both the conductivity and viscosity of the glass melt. Herein, the formation of NaxRuyOz, along with the chemical reactions promoting the crystallization of RuO2 in the waste glass, was comprehensively investigated. The results of X-ray diffraction and X-ray spectroscopy indicate that lamellar and granular Na3RuO4 do not form directly through the reaction between NaNO3 and RuO2 but rather through an intermediate stage from Na2RuO4. This reaction critically affects the morphology of RuO2 within the waste glass. The uncalcined mixture of NaNO3 and RuO2 was found to interact with the glass melt, forming granular RuO2 crystals, whereas the reaction of Na3RuO4 with the glass melt was found to lead to the formation of acicular RuO2 crystals. The results of X-ray absorption fine structure analysis indicate that the valence state of Ru in NaRu-BSG is slightly higher than that in reference RuO2, which was attributed to the presence of trace amounts of Na3RuO4 in the glass.

Modeling viscosity of commercial glass melts: Adam–Gibbs equation and Gaussian process regression

ABSTRACT A statistically designed property database of six commercial glass families is leveraged to develop models relating viscosity to temperature and composition. Specialized models for each glass family were designed based on the Adam–Gibbs equation. We show that the whole range of viscosity data of one glass family from 100 to 1012 Pa s can be accurately modeled using one composition-dependent and two composition-independent parameters when glass transition temperature and viscosity at that temperature are independently determined. Generalization to a broader composition space using the same approach leads to a loss of accuracy compared to specialized models. However, this can be mostly negated when Gaussian process regression is used to estimate the compositional dependence of configuration entropy and fragility exponent parameters of the Adam–Gibbs equation.

An innovative approach towards decolorization of tint and enhancing the optical & physical properties of high iron Na2O–CaO–SiO2 glass by co-doping with Ce4+/Nd3+: An experimental and comparative study

The aim of the research is to manufacture the colourless high iron Na2O–CaO–SiO2 glass with natural local raw materials with high iron content. Chemical and physical decolorizer like CeO2 and Nd2O3 were used in oxidation conditions by maintaining the redox of the melt. The maximum transmittance of colourless glass obtained at 546–562 nm is 91 % with a thickness of 6.5 mm. The addition of polyvalent ions Nd2O3/CeO2 decreases the optical band gap (Eg) and Urbach energy (ΔE) which results in resistance against solarization. Additionally, it also decreases the structural disorder results in high young & shear modulus. Lack of O–H in glass facilitates to retain more Si–O–Si in the glass matrices which enhances the down conversion luminance intensity of Nd3+ from 4I9/2 to 4F5/2 and improves the Far-IR behavior of the glass. Chromaticity diagram revealed that the doped glass has CI value 5416K which is closes to white light emission 5500k. Due to the presences of the Nd2O3/CeO2 and antimony oxide the Refractive index (ng), density (ρ), molar volume (V) and molecular weight of the glass increases. Maintaining the redox of the glass melt and Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio with the chemical and physical decolorizer will help to decolourize the Na2O–CaO–SiO2 glasses with the Fe2O3 content up to 0.3 % with the same methodology.

Characterization of the α-relaxation and gel-like dynamics in mixed network forming (GeO2)x(NaPO3)100-x glass melts by photon correlation spectroscopy

Dynamic light scattering investigations of the α-relaxation in network-forming (GeO2)x(NaPO3)100-x glass melts is reported for x = 0 to 40 mol% GeO2. Addition of GeO2 results in an increased density of bridging oxygen bonds. This monotonically increases the glass transition temperature but generates complex changes to the glass forming fragility which initially decreases with increasing GeO2 but increases again at higher GeO2 contents. A resolution to this odd fragility behavior is obtained by applying a coarse-graining procedure used previously in sodium germanate melts to arrive at a topological network connectivity for which fragility exhibits a universal dependence. Also observed in the light scattering measurements is a secondary relaxation, several orders of magnitude slower than that of the α-relaxation, which we tentatively attribute to gel-like anomalous diffusion of Ge crosslinks formed between phosphate chains.

Submicroscopic magnetite may be ubiquitous in the lunar regolith of the high-Ti region

Magnetite is rare on the Moon. The ubiquitous presence of magnetite in lunar soil has been hypothesized in previous Apollo Mössbauer spectroscopy and electron spin resonance studies, but there is currently no mineralogical evidence to prove it. Here, we report a large number of submicroscopic magnetite particles embedded within iron-sulfide on the surface of Chang’e-5 glass, with a close positive correlation between magnetite content and the TiO 2 content of the surrounding glass. The morphology and mineralogy of the iron-sulfide grains suggest that these magnetite particles formed via an impact process between iron-sulfide droplets and silicate glass melt, and ilmenite is necessary for magnetite formation. Magnetite in lunar glass is a potential candidate for the “magnetite-like” phase detected in the Apollo era and suggests that impact-induced submicroscopic magnetite may be ubiquitous in high-Ti regions of the Moon. Moreover, these impact-induced magnetite particles may be crucial for understanding the lunar magnetic anomalies and mineral components of the deep Moon.

Cold crystallization behavior of poly(lactic acid) induced by poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted graphene oxide: Crystallization kinetics and polymorphism

Cold crystallization between the glass transition and melt temperature is of particular significance for crystalline regulation due to the slow crystallization rate of poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Incorporation of nucleation agents can promote PLA crystallization by reducing the nucleation activation energy and offering nucleation sites. Herein, we investigated the cold crystallization behavior of PLA induced by poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted graphene oxide (PEGgGO) which was synthesized and identified as a powerful nucleation agent for melt crystallization. The obtained results showed that PEGgGO not only accelerated the cold crystallization kinetics of PLA, but also promoted the polymorphic transition kinetics during the heating process. The half crystallization time of PLA induced by PEGgGO was shortened by 51 % and the final crystallinity increased by 57 % compared to that induced by GO alone at the same loading of 0.5 wt%. In addition, relative to GO, PEGgGO enabled the α′-to-α phase transition kinetics of PLA by a reduced transition temperature range of 26 % due to its excellent nucleation ability even at cold crystallization. The flexible PEG chains on GO facilitated crystalline regulation of PLA owing to the improved chain mobility. This work provides a broader framework for fashioning semicrystalline PLA products with enhanced crystallinity and refined crystal structure towards prospective applications.

Effect of High Fiber Content on Properties and Performance of CFRTP Composites

Continuously reinforced thermoplastic composites are widely used in structural applications due to their toughness, light weight, and shorter process cycle. Moreover, they provide flexibility in design and material selection. Unlike thermoset composites, continuous fiber content to maximize mechanical properties in thermoplastic composites has not been well investigated. In this paper, three thermoplastic systems are investigated to study the optimum content of continuous fiber reinforcement. These systems include carbon fiber/polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), glass fiber/PPS, and glass fiber/high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Tapes were made at several fiber contents, and samples were compression molded and tested using thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile, 3-point flexure, and short-beam shear tests. Results revealed that higher fiber content led to an increase in the glass transition and melt transition temperatures of the polymer. Some mechanical properties increased with fiber content and then began to decrease upon further addition of fibers, while other properties, such as ductility and interfacial bond strength, decreased with more reinforcement. Furthermore, the optimum fiber contents to maximize mechanical properties are different for different properties and different materials.

Sustainable construction materials from alkali-activated waste fiberglass and waste refractory

In this work, waste fiberglass was up-cycled, alone, or mixed with used alumina-zirconia-silica (AZS) refractory from dismantled glass melting furnaces. Alkali activation was performed by suspending fiberglass and fiberglass/AZS powders in NaOH aqueous solution of various concentrations (8M, 6M, and 3M). The activation of waste fiberglass with 8M NaOH yields a gel with calcium and sodium-containing aluminosilicate hydrates. The addition of AZS refractory enabled the release of aluminates into the solution, which had beneficial effects on the mechanical properties. Low molarity activation yielded weaker materials which could be used as precursors for firing at moderate temperatures (800 °C and 1000 °C) to create cellular glass-ceramics, with a total porosity of up to 92 %. The firing of 8M activated samples resulted in glass ceramics with a 66–75 % porosity range and compressive strength of 10–23Mpa. The compressive strength-to-density ratio before and after firing was comparable to that of established commercial construction materials.

On the suitability of the α‐relaxation as novel trigger for a shape memory polymer

AbstractShape memory polymers typically utilize the glass transition or melting temperature to switch from one shape to another. The goal of this work is to check if the α‐relaxation, which is attributed to the migration of chains through lamellar crystals, can be utilized as novel switch for any crosslinkable semi‐crystalline thermoplastic. Using cross‐linked low‐density polyethylene (x‐LDPE) as an example, it is shown that the α‐relaxation is indeed suitable as switch, when the polymer is crystallized under strain to an intermediate shape. It is demonstrated that post‐stretching at a temperature between the α‐relaxation and the melting temperature, followed by subsequent cooling to room‐temperature switches x‐LDPE from the intermediate to a temporary shape and that reheating to this temperature initiates the retraction back to the intermediate shape. Switching between intermediate and temporary shapes is shown to be accompanied by a reversible change in morphology.

Study of Some Physical and Antibacterial Properties of Bio-based (PLA)/(PCL) Blend reinforced with ZrO2 Nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to produce flexible films by combining polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and enhance their strength by reinforcing them with different weight percentages (0.75, 1.5, and 2.25%) of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles (NPs) using a solvent casting process. The physical and antibacterial properties of the films were analysed to determine their suitability for use in food packaging. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the PLA/PCL films containing 2.25% by weight ZrO2 nanoparticles have a peak at an angle of 2θ = 17.18°, accompanied by smaller peaks. This confirms that these thin films have a semi-crystalline structure and that the molecules in the thin films are well dispersed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the film surfaces reveals that the pure PLA/PCL films exhibit a smooth surface, while the (PLA/PCL/ZrO2NPs) films have a rough surface. The thermal behaviour of the blends through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed fluctuations due to variations in the reinforcement ratio, resulting in changes in the glass transition and melting temperatures. These oscillations indicate changes in the level of crystallinity. ZnO2 has antibacterial properties that promote growth inhibition, making these films more effective in food packaging.