Chitin Nanocomposite Based on Plasticized Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PLA/PHB) Blends as Fully Biodegradable Packaging Materials
Magdalena L. Iglesias-Montes,
Michelina Soccio,
Valentina Siracusa,
Massimo Gazzano,
Nadia Lotti,
Viviana P. Cyras,
Liliana B. Manfredi
Affiliations
Magdalena L. Iglesias-Montes
Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata—Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
Michelina Soccio
Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, 40131 Bologna, Italy
Valentina Siracusa
Chemical Science Department, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
Massimo Gazzano
Institute of Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity, National Research Council, 40129 Bologna, Italy
Nadia Lotti
Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, 40131 Bologna, Italy
Viviana P. Cyras
Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata—Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
Liliana B. Manfredi
Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata—Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
Fully bio-based poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) blends plasticized with tributyrin (TB), and their nanocomposite based on chitin nanoparticles (ChNPs) was developed using melt mixing followed by a compression molding process. The combination of PHB and ChNPs had an impact on the crystallinity of the plasticized PLA matrix, thus improving its oxygen and carbon dioxide barrier properties as well as displaying a UV light-blocking effect. The addition of 2 wt% of ChNP induced an improvement on the initial thermal degradation temperature and the overall migration behavior of blends, which had been compromised by the presence of TB. All processed materials were fully disintegrated under composting conditions, suggesting their potential application as fully biodegradable packaging materials.
