High-Oxygen-Barrier Multilayer Films Based on Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Cellulose Nanocrystals
Beatriz Melendez-Rodriguez,
Sergio Torres-Giner,
Inmaculada Angulo,
Maria Pardo-Figuerez,
Loïc Hilliou,
Jose Manuel Escuin,
Luis Cabedo,
Yuval Nevo,
Cristina Prieto,
Jose Maria Lagaron
Affiliations
Beatriz Melendez-Rodriguez
Novel Materials and Nanotechnology Group, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
Sergio Torres-Giner
Novel Materials and Nanotechnology Group, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
Inmaculada Angulo
Gaiker Technology Centre, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA). Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, edificio 202, 48170 Zamudio, Bizkaia, Spain
Maria Pardo-Figuerez
Novel Materials and Nanotechnology Group, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
Loïc Hilliou
IPC/I3N, Institute for Polymers and Composites, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Braga, Portugal
Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), School of Technology and Experimental Sciences, Universitat Jaume I (UJI), 12071 Castellón, Spain
Yuval Nevo
Melodea Bio-Based Solutions, Faculty of Agriculture-Hebrew University, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Cristina Prieto
Novel Materials and Nanotechnology Group, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
Jose Maria Lagaron
Novel Materials and Nanotechnology Group, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), 46980 Valencia, Spain
This study reports on the development and characterization of organic recyclable high-oxygen-barrier multilayer films based on different commercial polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) materials, including a blend with commercial poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), which contained an inner layer of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and an electrospun hot-tack adhesive layer of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) derived from cheese whey (CW). As a result, the full multilayer structures were made from bio-based and/or compostable materials. A characterization of the produced films was carried out in terms of morphological, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties with respect to water vapor, limonene, and oxygen. Results indicate that the multilayer films exhibited a good interlayer adhesion and contact transparency. The stiffness of the multilayers was generally improved upon incorporation of the CNC interlayer, whereas the enhanced elasticity of the blend was reduced to some extent in the multilayer with CNCs, but this was still much higher than for the neat PHAs. In terms of barrier properties, it was found that 1 µm of the CNC interlayer was able to reduce the oxygen permeance between 71% and 86%, while retaining the moisture and aroma barrier of the control materials.
