Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1882185 Radiation Physics and Chemistry 2016 8 Pages PDF
Abstract

•The gamma irradiation effects on PLA clamshells were studied.•DSC, XRD, NMR and FTIR analysis were used for PLA clamshell characterization.•The Mw, Tm, strength and elongation of the irradiated PLA clamshells decreased.•The tensile modulus increased with increasing gamma doses.•The Surface of PLA clamshell showed scratches and minor cracks.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a well-known biodegradable polymer with strong potential application in food packaging industry. In this paper, samples of PLA clamshell for tomatoes packaging were exposed with 60CO γ-ray's source (1.33 MeV) at different dose levels (0, 10, 60, 150, 300, and 600 kGy), at room temperature and in presence of air. The physicochemical properties of neat PLA and sample exposed to gamma irradiation were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tensile measurements. Results show as the dose increases, the molecular weight (Mw), melting temperature (Tm), tensile strength and elongation at break decreased. However, the tensile modulus increased with increasing doses. The surface of PLA clamshells was degraded (scratches and minor cracks) when samples were exposed to doses greater than 60 kGy.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Physics and Astronomy Radiation
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