Effect of natural and synthetic antioxidants incorporation on the gas permeation properties of poly(lactic acid) films

abstract

Gas permeation properties (permeability, diffusivity and solubility coefficients) were determined for carbon dioxide and oxygen in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films enriched with 0, 2, 4 and 10 wt.% of different antioxidants, at three temperatures, 284, 293 and 303 K, using a time-lag apparatus. Three antioxidants, a natural, alpha-tocopherol (AT), and two synthetic, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), were tested. DSC results show that the polymer glass transition temperature slightly decreases with the increase of the antioxidant content. The crystallinity degree of PLA films decreases with the addition of BHT and TBHQ whereas the incorporation of AT increases the crystallinity of PLA films. The permeability towards water vapour, at 299 K and 45% of relative humidity, and surface energy show a decreased in the wettability of the prepared materials with the increase of the antioxidants content. The incapacity to measure gas permeation in PLA films with 10 wt.% of AT and BHT incorporated was due to phase separation, proved by SEM images. The CO2 and O-2 permeation results show that PLA barrier properties can be improved by the incorporation of antioxidants but are strongly dependent on the amount and structure of the antioxidant added. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

keywords

MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES; POLYLACTIC ACID; BARRIER PROPERTIES; BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS; BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE; SEPARATION MEMBRANES; SURFACE MODIFICATION; POLY(L-LACTIC ACID); ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL; BLENDS

subject category

Engineering; Food Science & Technology

authors

Goncalves, CMB; Tome, LC; Garcia, H; Brandao, L; Mendes, AM; Marrucho, IM

our authors

Groups

acknowledgements

Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia is acknowledged for the PhD research grants of Carla M.B. Goncalves (SFRH/BD/23455/2005) and Liliana C. Tome (SFRH/BD/72830/2010). Helga Garcia is indebted to Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian for the fellowship 21-95587-B. Isabel M. Marrucho acknowledges FCT/MCTES (Portugal) for a contract under Programa Ciencia 2007. The authors are also grateful to Ricardo J.B. Pinto (CICECO, University of Aveiro) for performing the SEM experiments.

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