The Combined Effect of Nanoclay and alpha-tocopherol on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Polyethylene Active Packaging

Asian Journal of Biological and Life Sciences ,2018,7,2,59-66.
Published:November 2018
Type:Original Research Article
Authors:
Author(s) affiliations:

Zahra Mirkhavar1, Shervin Ahmadi2, Mehdi Farhoodi1, Abdorreza Mohammadi1, Mohammad Amin Mohammadifar1,3,*

1Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition Science, Food Science and Technology/National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IRAN.

2Department of Polymer Processing, Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, IRAN.

3Research Group for Food Production Engineering, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, SøltoftsPlads, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, DENMARK.

Abstract:

A novel active nanocomposite packaging based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE), Cloisite® 15 A (C15A), and α -tocopherol (α-TOC) was prepared. The effects of C15A (0-4 wt. %) and α-TOC (1-3 wt. %) on optical, mechanical and barrier properties of polyethylene were analyzed using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Regression models were developed for mechanical characteristics (tensile strength and elongation at break), water vapor permeability (WVP) and optical properties (L*, a*, b*, OP) as a function of α-TOC and C15A concentrations. For all cases, the quadratic terms of the model were significant (P< 0.05). In order to maximize TS and EL and minimize WVP, the desirability function (DF) was used to determine the regression model equations. The optimized factors were found to be 2.93 wt. % α-TOC and 4 wt.% Cloisite®15A for a maximal desirability of 0.903.