Fabrication and Characterizations of Zeolite β–filled Polyethylene Composite Films. (5th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Zhen; Guo, Yu‐hua; Zhang, Tian‐ming; Zhang, Xiao‐hong; Guo, Li‐ying
• Other Names: Shires David guestEditor.; Twede Diana guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Packaging technology and science. Volume 26:Number 1(2013)supplement
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2012-09-05
• Subjects: polyethylene -- zeolite H‐β -- composite films -- barrier properties; Packaging -- Periodicals; 688.8
• DOI: 10.1002/pts.1986
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-3214

Abstract

Abstract : A series of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)/linear LDPE (LLDPE)/zeolite H‐β composites at different zeolite contents up to 10 wt% were mixed after melt and blown into film sheets. The resultant films were characterized by using X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and other physical property analyzers. X‐ray diffraction results reflect that either zeolite or polymer phase has maintained its regularly ordered microscopic structure without any observable deterioration. The scanning electron microscope morphological observation shows a good dispersion of zeolite in the PE matrix. Water vapour, oxygen and nitrogen transmission rates are all found to increase after introducing zeolite H‐β. However, tensile strength, elongation, tear strength and puncture resistance are observed to obviously drop with successive increment of zeolite content. Composite film clarity becomes poorer than the pristine film as reflected by the increase of the film haze after adding zeolite H‐β. Finally, the composite films were used as packaging materials for fresh strawberries. The gas composition variations in the packages during 5 days reflect that the O2 and CO2 contents have varied inside and they are apparently dependent on the zeolite loadings in the composite films, subsequently affecting respiration rates of fruit. Our experiments suggest that there is a compromise between zeolite content and film performances like mechanical, optical, barrier and packaging properties. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Abstract : Blown PE‐zeolite H‐β composite films exhibit decrease in mechanical properties and optical properties but retains respective phase rather well along with good zeolite particle dispersion. Composite films exhibit obvious increase in water vapour and O2 rates due to the large zeolite pore size. The O2 /CO2 composition inside the film packages has varied over time for storing strawberries, and these variations of gas compositions appear to modify subsequent respiration rates of strawberry fruit.