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Effect of Hexadecyl Lactate as Plasticizer on the Properties of Poly(l-lactide) Films for Food Packaging Applications

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Abstract

In this study, poly(l-lactide) (PLA) films were fabricated by melt processing and the plasticizing effect of hexadecyl lactate (HL) (0, 5, 7.5, 10, and 12.5 wt% on PLA were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, tensile, transparency, and water vapor permeability tests. The SEM analysis revealed that PLA with 10 wt% HL appeared uniform with extra small bumps, confirmed the interaction between PLA and HL. The thermal analysis revealed a glass transition temperature of 57.4 °C for neat PLA film, but the addition of HL elicited a decrease in the temperature of the peak (43.8 °C). The incorporation of plasticizer into PLA resulted in the increase of elongation at break, as well as the decrease of tensile strength and tensile modulus. Even though a decrease in transparency was recorded, the PLA/HL blend films appeared transparent by visually observation. The water vapor permeability of PLA/HL blend films increased with the increase of HL. The PLA/HL blend films could effectively extend the shelf-life of fresh-cut pears as the commercial low density polyethylene films. The results indicated that the properties of PLA films can be modified with the addition of HL and PLA/HL blend films could serve as an alternative as food packaging materials to reduce environmental problems associated with synthetic packaging films.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31160198, 31360417), the Applied Basic Research Key Project of Yunnan (2013FA039), the Applied Basic Research Project of Yunnan (2011FB084), and the High-End Technology Professionals Introduction Plan in Yunnan province (2010CI119).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering Research Center of Biopolymer Functional Materials of Yunnan, Yunnan University of Nationalities, Kunming, 650500, China

    Yuyue Qin, Ya Wang, Hongli Li & Minglong Yuan

  2. Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China

    Yan Wu & Yingjie Zhang

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  1. Yuyue Qin
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  2. Ya Wang
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Correspondence to Minglong Yuan.

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Qin, Y., Wang, Y., Wu, Y. et al. Effect of Hexadecyl Lactate as Plasticizer on the Properties of Poly(l-lactide) Films for Food Packaging Applications. J Polym Environ 23, 374–382 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-014-0702-7

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