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Post-industrial low-density and linear low-density polyethylene blown films are mechanically recycled for reutilizing in the production of blown films for packaging applications. This process enables the production of films with lower cost and similar properties while preserving the environment and lowering the amount of waste material disposed of. The mechanical recycling process results in the production of recycled pellets. This process includes chopping, washing, drying, and reprocessing. Mixtures of these recycled materials and their virgin form with various concentrations are shaped into blown films with inherent 70 and 30 wt% loadings for low-density polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene components, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results of the recycled material show no contamination or chemical reaction with other materials. Gel permeation chromatography is carried out on the virgin and recycled low-density polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene, and the results indicate the occurrence of chain session and crosslinking during the recycling process. The decline in the thermal properties of the samples, seen from the differential scanning calorimetry results, indicates the presence of crosslinks. The effect of structural changes caused by the recycling process on the rheological properties is studied. The miscibility of the blend components is evaluated by Cole-Cole plots and then further proved by Han and Van Gurp-Palman curves. Mechanical properties display an upturn following the presence of the crosslinkes. A decline in the optical properties in the films caused by the refraction of light by the crosslink structure in the film bulk and on the surface is evident. Highlights * LDPE and LLDPE were recycled according to the circular economy approach * Blown films containing virgin and recycled LDPE and LLDPE were produced * Chain scission and crosslinking as a result of recycling were studied * Rheological, thermal, mechanical, and optical properties were studied KEYWORDS circular economy, crosslinking, mechanical properties, polyethylene, recycling, rheological properties, 1 | INTRODUCTION The vast applicability of plastics due to their lightweight and ease of processing, along with other desirable features like high strength and sensible prices, has made them [...]

Packaging waste makes up more than 10% of the landfilled waste in the United States. While consumers often want to make environmentally friendly product choices, we find that their perceptions of the environmental friendliness of product packaging may systematically deviate from its objective environmental friendliness. Eight studies (N = 4,103) document the perceived environmental friendliness (PEF) bias whereby consumers judge plastic packaging with additional paper to be more environmentally friendly than identical plastic packaging without the paper. The PEF bias is driven by consumers' "paper = good, plastic = bad" beliefs and by proportional reasoning, wherein packaging with a greater paper-to-plastic proportion is judged as more environmentally friendly. We further show that the PEF bias impacts consumers' willingness to pay and product choice. Importantly, this bias can be mitigated by a "minimal packaging sticker" intervention, which increases the environmental friendliness perceptions of plastic-only packaging, rendering plastic-packaged products to be preferable to their plastic-plus-paper-packaged counterparts. This research contributes to the packaging literature in marketing and to research on sustainability while offering practical implications for managers and public policy officials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the level of knowledge among Spanish consumers regarding sustainability and their opinions on new sustainable packaging options, such as bio-based materials or bagasse. We conducted an online questionnaire at a national level, followed by multivariate analysis to derive conclusive results. Our findings, based on 254 participants, indicate that only 44% of consumers integrate sustainability into their daily lives. Key characteristics deemed important for sustainable packaging include environmental friendliness (85%), use of clean energy (72.5%), ease of reuse (85.8%), and recyclable materials (80.8%). Factor analysis reveals three categories: manufacturing characteristics, security, and price. Cluster analysis identifies two groups: one concerned with container safety and another seeking achievable sustainability.

Abstract Silicon‐based packaging is highly suitable for miniaturised and cost‐effective integrated systems. However, traditional silicon‐based antenna‐in‐package (AiP) has disadvantages, such as high loss, low efficiency and narrow bandwidth. A glass‐silicon active package system architecture is proposed. Its active part is integrated on a silicon substrate, while the antenna array in the package system is made of glass, which has high radiation efficiency. The proposed antenna structure is an H‐type aperture‐coupled microstrip patch antenna. The authors use a ball grid array to form cavity and two shielding structures to improve the scanning performance of the array. Furthermore, by adding grounding points, the resonance singularity within the shielding structure is eliminated. A test array, composed of 8 × 8 elements was fabricated for the purpose of validating the design. It can achieve wide‐angle scanning greater than ±60° and bandwidth of 29%. This design can be applied for ka‐band communications and radar systems.

The low marketing literacy of MSMEs in Kaliombo Village, Pekalongan Regency, has resulted in low marketing activities such as packaging, product branding, and digital marketing. Apart from that, the literacy of MSME actors in the Village regarding halal products is still low, so they require readiness for the marketed products to comply with Government Regulations regarding Halal Product Guarantees. This government regulation requires that all products traded are halal so that they enter the halal ecosystem. This community service is carried out with training and mentoring activities to increase literacy regarding the importance of branding, packaging, digital marketing, and halal-haram to prepare MSME residents of Kaliombo Village to face competition in the market and enter the halal ecosystem. This empowerment includes socialization and assistance regarding concepts, uses, and how to apply branding, packaging, digital marketing, and halal-haram to the Kaliombo Village community farmer groups. This empowerment has an impact on increasing the competitiveness of MSMEs through optimizing brand design, packaging design, creating and developing social media accounts, and preparing to self-declare for halal certification permits for MSMEs.

Locally sourced agricultural residues are a promising feedstock for the production of reinforcement fibers for wastepaper-based packaging papers. An eco-friendly high yield process to generate fibers from wheat straw using high pressure steam and sodium carbonate is presented. The wheat straw was impregnated with up to 16% of sodium carbonate and steam treated for 10 min at temperatures from 148 °C to 203 °C. The pulps were characterized concerning their chemical composition and test sheets with 100% straw fibers and with 15% and 30% straw fibers blended with recycled pulp were prepared. Fiber yields ranged from 70% to 45%, wherein more severe treatment conditions contributed to increased paper strength but lower yields. At comparable fiber yields, treatments featuring a higher chemical input, coupled with lower treatment temperatures, resulted in improved paper strength. By blending recycled pulp with up to 30% of straw fibers with a beating degree of roughly 45 °SR, the burst, compression and tensile strength was enhanced by up to 66%, 74% and 59%, respectively. As the enhancement effect decreases with a high steam treatment intensity and a high proportion of wheat straw, a moderate treatment and limited use of wheat straw may be the best choice.

We implement a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser diode (LD) package with low-magnetic field generation. The package consists of a commercial 795 nm DBR LD chip, a thermo-electric cooler (TEC), a thermistor, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) which cancels the magnetic field emitted by the TEC current flow, and a non-magnetic aluminum case. We confirm that the magnetic dipole moment of our low-magnetic package body is about three orders of magnitude smaller than that of a commercial DBR laser package. Moreover, it is shown that our compensating FPCB, the effectiveness of which is supported by computer simulations, reduces the magnetic field magnitude by a factor of 2.2. The FPCB also reduces the magnetic field gradient emitted by the TEC current flow so that gradient-induced spin relaxations are suppressed in applications. A portable optically pumped atomic magnetometer (OPAM) utilizing two low-magnetic packages as light sources is reported as an application of the package and shows a 0.30 pT/Hz1/2 level magnetic sensitivity at a 69 μT external magnetic field; in contrast, the OPAM utilizing the commercial packages showed a magnetic sensitivity of 0.87 pT/Hz1/2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was conducted to formulate a water-based ink with antimicrobial properties for packaging applications. Two distinct types of inks were developed, one with synthetic yellow color pigment and the other with curcumin, as an antimicrobial and a natural yellow pigment. The resulting two inks were then printed on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films, and the physiochemical characteristics of the ink were thoroughly examined. The coated inks had an average thickness of 10 microns for both the inks. The viscosity of the water-based ink and the antimicrobial water-based ink were determined to be 54cp and 30cp, respectively and the drying time of the inks was 10 sec. At the same time, the gloss value increased from 30% to 50% in the case of antimicrobial ink. The antimicrobial efficacy of the antimicrobial water-based ink, as demonstrated against S. aureus and E. coli, surpassed that of the conventional water-based ink. These findings showed that the antimicrobial water-based ink had a good drying time, increased gloss, and favorable storage stability. Using curcumin as a pigment in water-based ink may be significant for printing applications of active food packaging materials. It can also help lower the risk of contamination of the food components with microbes. Highlights * Synthesis of antimicrobial water-based ink * Active packaging printing * Curcumin as an antimicrobial * Curcumin used as a natural color pigment in the ink * Acrylic resin synthesis KEYWORDS acrylic resin, active packaging, antimicrobial ink, curcumin, water-based ink, 1 | INTRODUCTION Printing ink is commonly used in packaging to add visual appeal and essential product information such as barcodes, expiration dates, and logos. However, the production and application [...]

Various companies are creating seaweed-based materials and applications In the never-ending search for eco-friendly packaging solutions, brands and package designers continue to seek viable alternatives to plastic. One such option--seaweed-based [...]

Throughout its lifespan, petroleum-based plastics are associated with a number of environmental problems, including pollution, the release of greenhouse gases, persistence in aquatic and terrestrial environments, etc. As an alternative to conventional plastics generated from petroleum, bioplastics, a class of polymeric materials that is quickly developing, are regularly promoted. The development of renewable resources led to the emergence of bioplastic substitutes. Since these polymers employed sustainable resources like agricultural wastes (instead of petroleum sources) and are biodegradable under different conditions, they are more commonly accepted than conventional plastics. Bioplastics' physical and chemical composition significantly affects how quickly they deteriorate. Natural biomass sources can be used to produce bioplastics like starch, cellulose, chitosan, chitin, and polyhydroxyalkanoates. All these bioplastics have the appropriate physiochemical, thermal, and mechanical characteristics to be used in the development of bioplastics that are naturally biobased and biodegradable. Biopolymers are used for more than just bioplastics, including sustainable manufacturing. In this review, we have covered the different types of bioplastics, their classification, sources, production techniques, advantages over traditional petroleum-based plastics, and their applications in different sectors. Also, industries involved in the production of bioplastics worldwide has also been mentioned. Bioplastics serves as a potential substitute for the fossil-based plastics. Several sources (Agro and Kitchen waste) for bioplastic production are studied. Various bioplastics production methods are identified e.g. Casting, Molding, Extrusion, and Film-blowing. Analysis of studies is provided on bioplastic application in different industries along with their real-time applications. The use of bioplastic is an essential step toward achieving overall sustainability of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Fish is well known for its perishable nature. Essential oils in food packaging seem to be safe and reliable both in terms of safety for the consumer and in terms of improving the shelf life of the product. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two different essential oil vapours (one with rosemary and the other one with lemon extract) on three different types of fishery products (swordfish steaks, bluefin tuna steaks and Argentinian prawns) stored in a protective atmosphere packaging, monitoring the shelf life up to 8 days through microbiological, chemical and sensorial analyses. The results showed that the products preserved with the inclusion of essential oils have reached the end of the shelf‐life period respecting the process hygiene and food safety criteria, receiving a greater appreciation rating from the consumer panel at the end of shelf life for the prawns and swordfish samples with the addition of rosemary essential oils vapours, which instead highlighted the worst result at the end of shelf life for tuna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the needs of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR), smart contact lenses (SCL) have become an important platform as a display source in the future consumer market. Accordingly, this paper demonstrates a display device based on contact lenses. This device integrates a 3 × 3 Mini‐LED display array, a micro antenna, and a driver and transmission chip and is packaged in a smart contact lens made of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). It is note that in order to simultaneously meet the goals of wearing comfort, biocompatibility, wireless energy transmission and adjustable display functions, the final package thickness needs to be less than 200 μm. Here, we use heterogeneous packaging technology to connect the driver and transmission chip and the Mini‐LED display array with metal wires on the flexible substrate, and use metal wires on the same conductive layer to design the antenna required for wireless energy transmission. In order to complete the above functions, we use 920 MHz RFID technology as the energy source for wireless energy transmission. When the antenna of the RFID reader is 2 cm away from the smart contact lens, the designed receiving chip can receive 100 μW of energy. After converting this energy to DC 3 V, it can drive Mini‐LED with a current of about 30 μA, and the mini‐LED display array can be instantly controlled to display different contents by transmitting display commands through the RFID protocol. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standardized ('plain') packaging is effective in reducing the appeal of cigarettes among young people. This study examined the impact of plain packaging and brand imagery on interest in trying e-cigarettes among youth. Experimental design. Two online experiments were conducted in February 2020 as part of the ITC Youth Tobacco & Vaping Survey, conducted with 13,624 16- to 19-year-olds in Canada, England, and the USA. In the between-group Experiment 1, participants were randomized to view a set of 3 e-cigarette brands, in either their original external packaging ('branded' condition) or standardized olive-green packaging ('standardized' condition), and asked to select the product they would be most interested in trying. The within-group Experiment 2 examined brand imagery directly on devices, including potential differences in appeal among subgroups. Each participant viewed 4 pod-style e-cigarette devices: one 'plain' and 3 in colourful 'skins'. Logistic regression models were conducted to test the effect of condition, adjusting for demographics, smoking and vaping status. In Experiment 1, participants in the 'standardized' packaging condition were significantly more likely to indicate 'I have no interest in trying any of these products' (72.3%) than those in the 'branded' condition (66.9%, AOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.33–1.59). Experiment 2 results indicated differences in e-cigarette appeal by sex in the selection of male- and female-oriented designs, and by cannabis use for a Rastafarian-themed design. Brand imagery on e-cigarettes can target products to specific subgroups. Removal of imagery, in the form of standardized packaging, has the potential to reduce interest in trying e-cigarettes among young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic waste pollution is one of the biggest problems in the world today. The amount of plastic in the environment continues to increase, and human exposure to microplastic (MP) has become a reality. This subject has attracted the attention of the whole world. The MP problem has also been noticed by the scientific community. The term microplastic is mostly used to define synthetic material with a high polymer content that can have a size range from 0.1 to 5000 µm. This paper aims to characterize the routes of exposure to MP, define its pollution sources, and identify food types contaminated with plastics. This review addresses the current state of knowledge on this type of particles, with particular emphasis on their influence on human health. Adverse effects of MP depend on routes and sources of exposure. The most common route of exposure is believed to be the gastrointestinal tract. Sources of MP include fish, shellfish, water as well as tea, beer, wine, energy drinks, soft drinks, milk, salt, sugar, honey, poultry meat, fruits, and vegetables. Studies have shown that particles of PET, PE, PP, PS, PVC, PA, and PC are the most frequently found in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable production and sale of aquatics processing and packaging factories is closely related to understanding the behavior of consumers and evaluating their purchase priorities. Because it is only in the case of evaluating and mastering the mentioned items that the production centers can produce a product according to the market's desire, thus guaranteeing stable productivity and increasing their profit. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the behavior of packaged fish buyers and to identify their priorities for purchasing the product in Tehran city. For this purpose, a questionnaire based on research assumptions was designed and completed by the statistical community. The statistical population of the research is the whole of Tehran city, that 12 urban areas were randomly selected for the field study with a sample size of 600 people. In order to test the hypotheses and examine the intensity of the relationship between the items, a proportional conceptual model (based on Theory of Planned Behavior) was designed and analyzed by Lisrel software (structural equation modeling). Also, In order to evaluate and rank the priorities of the statistical population in relation to some of product characteristics, Friedman's test was used. The results showed that the variables of packaging characteristics, fish species, processing models, types of supply and quality factors (quality) were significantly effective on the attitude, while the quality variable with an effect coefficient of 0.31 had the greatest effect on the attitude. The place of purchase also had a significant effect on the perceived behavior control and the hypothesis related to it was confirmed. Among the three main elements of the model (attitude towards consumption, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control), attitude towards consumption with an effect coefficient of 0.63 was the most effective element on the intention to buy and consume. In the following, it was found that two variables, price and access, do not have a significant effect on the purchase decision, and the hypotheses related to them were also rejected. The ranking of purchase priorities of Tehrani citizens in relation to fish species, cultured species, types of supply, pack weights, processing models and shopping places showed that the first rank is related to Persian Gulf fish (south), rainbow trout, whole fish (empty stomach with head), weight of 500 to 700 grams, schnitzel and protein supply stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated, through physical and physiological tests, the seed quality of a landrace fava bean variety in different packaging materials and storage periods, aiming to guarantee the conservation of their quality in seed banks and facilities. The methodology used was the one recommended by the Rules for Seed Analysis (RAS - Brasil, 2009) and minimum descriptors for Phaseolus lunatus L. The data were subjected to analysis of variance by the F-test at 5% signififance to verify the presence of significant interactions and the individual effects of each treatment. The test of multiple comparison of means was performed by the Tukey test at 5% significance between common treatments. The Dunnett test was used at 5% significance to compare the control means with the means of the treatments. R egression analysis was performed to study the effect of storage on the variables evaluated. All analyses were performed using the R software. From the results, it can be concluded that the storage of fava bean seeds is viable in small rural properties in impermeable packaging materials and aluminized polyethylene bags. The germination and vigor of the seeds analyzed in this study decreased throughout the storage period regardless of the type of packaging used. It is not recommended to store fava bean seeds in permeable paper packaging as they have the lowest quality indices (germination and vigor) at the end of the storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frozen storage of food products is widely accepted not only in the industry but also by households. Frost formation during long-term storage is recognized as a phenomenon that causes changes in product characteristics and quality losses. However, quantitative prediction and control of frost formation remains a challenge. In this study, a mathematical model was developed to predict frost formation inside frozen food products (i.e., frozen minced meat packed in a polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) film) under fluctuating temperature conditions in a domestic refrigerator. The proposed model is based on heat transfer and energy balance equations, and the amount of frost formation is estimated from the heat generated by condensation. The heat transfer coefficients were experimentally obtained and applied to the developed model. The interactions between the amplitude and frequency of temperature fluctuations and the corresponding amount of frost formation were visualized using contour plots. Both the amplitude and frequency were found to increase frost formation. For the range of fluctuations tested (temperature amplitudes of 0.5–2.5 K and cooling rates of 0.0125–0.2 K/min when connected to the compressor), the simulation predicted that the amount of frost in the packages varied up to approximately 4.5 times (0.48–2.18 g/month for packages containing 300 g of minced meat) depending on the different temperature fluctuation settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of new semiconductor devices puts forward higher requirements for packaging technology. Sintered silver technology has gradually developed into critical packaging technology in silicon carbide power module packaging due to its good heat dissipation performance and reliability. However, high sintering drive requirements, low sintering densification, and high thermal–mechanical stresses limit the application of sintered silver technology for large-area bonding. In this study, the high-pressure-assisted (≥10 MPa) large-area sintered-silver interconnection process between a substrate and baseplate was discussed. C-scan acoustic microscopy, warpage testing, and microanalysis were used to analyze the effects of drying methods, sintering pressure, and holding time on the sintered joints, and thermal fatigue reliability tests were conducted on large-area sintered silver joints. The results demonstrated that the quality of large-area sintered joints obtained via open-face convective drying is higher than that via close-face convective drying. Combining the performance of sintered joints and productivity, the recommended process condition is determined as follows: open-face convective drying, sintering temperature of 250 °C, sintering pressure of 15 MPa, and holding time of 5 min. Large-area sintered joints have outstanding reliability, with slight delamination of the sintered layer at the corners and no cracking after 1000 cycles of temperature cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Waste from public spaces is currently predominantly collected as mixed waste. • The composition of public waste differs from household waste. • High proportions of recyclable materials and packaging waste were identified. • The case city's annual public waste generation is around 100 tonnes. Waste from public places like parks, pedestrian zones or sidewalks is a visible yet unexploited waste stream. Publications and information on the amounts and makeup of this waste flow are very scarce. To evaluate the resource potential and enable waste management planning, this study aims to assess the quality and quantity of public waste in a detailed waste characterisation campaign. For the first time, an analysis at this level of detail was conducted in a medium-sized town (25,000 inhabitants) in Austria. The sampling campaign included the whole town area. In total, almost 1000 kg of waste was sorted in up to 88 different fractions, which allows the detailed composition of, for example, packaging waste and single-use plastics to be delineated. We found that the amount of waste collected in public street bins is approximately 2.6 % of the total mixed municipal solid waste, resulting in 4.1 kg of public waste per inhabitant annually. The vast majority of this waste is currently collected as mixed waste. The results indicate a high share (52 %) of recyclable materials (glass, metal, paper and lightweight packaging) in mixed public waste, most of which is packaging (44 % of total waste). Other large shares include dog feces (18 % of total waste) and biogenic waste (17 % of total waste). The results lay the foundation for further investigations into, for example, exploiting recycling potential or evaluating possible improvements in separate waste collection in public spaces. Further, the collected data serve as an essential knowledge basis for policymakers and local authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractNanoclays (layered silicates) have been applied as effective reinforcements for polymeric matrices. Chitosan has gained much research interest owing to its remarkable physical features and applications. It is an important amino-polysaccharide formed from deacetylated chitin. The processability, properties, and applicability of chitosan have been enhanced in the form of nanoclay nanocomposites/hybrids. The ensuing high-performance chitosan/nanoclay nanocomposites have been observed in high-tech applications of engineering to biomedical fields. This state-of-the-art comprehensive overview debates the potential of chitosan/nanoclay nanocomposites. In this regard, numerous design combinations of the chitosan, modified chitosan, and chitosan blends have been observed with nanoclays (montmorillonite, bentonite, laponite, cloisite, halloysite nanoclay). Chitosan/nanoclay nanocomposites have been investigated for toxic ions/dyes/biological pollutants removal, flame retardancy, packaging, and antimicrobial/biomedical applications. Consequently, chitosan blends with laolinite nanoclay revealed thermal stability of 400–600 °C and around 80% degradation. Modified chitosan blends filled with organo-modified montmorillonite had non-flammability properties according to V-0 rating and a decrease in total peak heat release and heat release rate. Chitosan nanocomposites with montmorillonite or cloisite nanoclay have been tested for Pb2+, Cr6+, Cu 2+, Zn2+, etc. ions and adsorption capacity >100–300 mg/g was observed. Moreover, chitosan/montmorillonite nanocomposites had an adsorption capacity of 80–500 mg/g for methylene blue and rhodamin-6 dyes. For antimicrobial packaging application, chitosan/halloysite depicted antibacterial efficiency of > 80% against E. coli and S. aureus bacterial strains. Enhanced characteristics rely on chitosan-nanoclay interactions, interface formation, synergistic effects, and structure-property relationships. The future of these nanomaterials in the technical field depends on new designs, facile fabrication, and overcoming underlying challenges toward nanoclay nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to initiate appropriate storage conditions for garlic depending on its properties. Fungal contamination can reduce the quality of garlic through changes in its properties which result in its aroma alteration. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of treatments such as fungal infection (FI), material of packaging (MP), and storage duration (SD) on various characteristics of garlic. An electronic nose was used complementarily to trace the aroma changes as a non‐destructive indicator. The Fusarium oxysporum (FS), Alternaria embellisia (AL), and Botrytis allii (BT) fungi were adopted for inoculation. The low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and silicone nano‐emulsions (SNE) were used for packing samples. The data were analyzed by diverse approaches such as ANOVA, PLS, PCA, LDA, and BPNN. The results revealed that the evaluated properties changed during the storage. The implementation of treatments altered the intensity of these changes. The highest values of weight loss (21.14%), color changes (50.21), and acidity (7.48) were observed in the FS‐infected samples kept in LDPE for 28 days. The accuracy of PCA, LDA, and BPNN in the multivariate analysis of aroma had an increasing‐decreasing trend. The best accuracy of PCA in categorizing the FI and MP treatments achieved in the twelfth day of storage (96%). The optimal accuracy of classifications based on FI and MP treatments was obtained at d#12 (100%) and d#24 (100%), respectively. The PLS exposed that the aroma changes in garlic had a high correlation with the changes of studied properties (R2 ≥ .7), except for the mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the development of environmentally sustainable, high‐quality packaging materials by incorporating poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with different polymers. To accomplish this objective, pure PHB was blended with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in a precise 9:1 ratio. Subsequently, this blend was further combined with 50 wt% of various polymers, namely, polycaprolactone, poly(vinylacetate), and polylactic acid (PLA), using a solvent‐casting method. Further, the research investigates the multifaceted properties of these materials, including their thermal characteristics, morphological structures, mechanical strengths, barrier properties, and degradation behaviors. Among these blends, the film consisting of PHB, PEG, and PLA (PHB/PEG/PLA) emerged as a standout performer, displaying exceptional attributes. Notably, the PHB/PEG/PLA composite film exhibited remarkable thermal stability, boasting a high tensile strength of 26.6 MPa. Additionally, it demonstrated an outstanding ability to serve as a barrier against water vapors. These findings imply that the PHB/PEG/PLA composite film holds significant potential for a wide range of applications, particularly in the field of packaging and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high gain D‐band hybrid integrated on‐chip antenna (OCA) based on a low‐cost printed circuit board (PCB) packaging technology is analyzed and designed in a standard 40‐nm CMOS process in this paper. The proposed OCA is a hybrid structure of a slotted patch OCA with off‐chip PCB ground and off‐chip dielectric resonator (DR). The proposed OCA exhibits a simulated gain of 3.5 dBi and 53% radiation efficiency at 150 GHz. The simulated impedance bandwidth is 20 GHz. The radiation performance and impedance bandwidth of the OCA are observably improved with the proposed techniques. The proposed OCA occupies 0.52 × 0.56 mm2, and addresses the highly desirable yet challenging overall design of future low‐cost integrated millimeter‐wave (mm‐Wave) and terahertz (THz) systems, which hit the mark on cost and compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon‐based packaging is highly suitable for miniaturised and cost‐effective integrated systems. However, traditional silicon‐based antenna‐in‐package (AiP) has disadvantages, such as high loss, low efficiency and narrow bandwidth. A glass‐silicon active package system architecture is proposed. Its active part is integrated on a silicon substrate, while the antenna array in the package system is made of glass, which has high radiation efficiency. The proposed antenna structure is an H‐type aperture‐coupled microstrip patch antenna. The authors use a ball grid array to form cavity and two shielding structures to improve the scanning performance of the array. Furthermore, by adding grounding points, the resonance singularity within the shielding structure is eliminated. A test array, composed of 8 × 8 elements was fabricated for the purpose of validating the design. It can achieve wide‐angle scanning greater than ±60° and bandwidth of 29%. This design can be applied for ka‐band communications and radar systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocellulose is a promising future material which has got attention due to its unique characteristics. Properties which make nanocellulose special are the eco‐friendliness, high strength, stiffness, renewability, abundance, tunable surface characteristics, and low weight. This review addresses major factors like processing of nanocellulose, modification, properties, preparation of nanocomposites from nanocellulose, and their application in different fields. This review facilitates the selection of biomass sources, processing techniques for NC synthesis, application, and challenges. This review also emphasizes on different applications of nanocellulose reinforced polymer composites in different areas such as biomedical, packaging, electronic and environmental remediation, etc. Recent developments in the processing of cellulose nanocomposites using solution casting and other complex methods have been highlighted. As an emerging functional polymeric material, nanocellulose has become a research hotspot. The importance of nanocellulose in future includes the design of nanocellulose as per the specific user requirements, reduction of the production cost, and making customized products using nanocellulose using green processing. Hence this review is intended to provide new insights into the field of eco‐friendly fundamental materials with in‐depth perspectives and current research trends in its future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel packaging film based on whey protein isolate/κ‐carrageenan (WC) with red grape pomace anthocyanins (RGA) to investigate its impact on some qualitative attributes of emergency food bars (EFBs) for 6 months at 38°C. Increasing the RGA dose in WC films from 5% (WCA5) to 10% (WCA10) reduced hydrogen bonding between polymers and polymer homogeneity in the matrix according to FTIR and SEM. Tensile strength slightly declined in WCA5 from 7.47 ± 0.26 to 6.97 ± 0.12, while elongation increased from 27.74 ± 1.36 to 32.36 ± 1.25% compared to WC film. The maximum weight loss temperature (TM) increased by incorporating 5 wt% RGA from 182.95°C to 244.36°C, whereas TM declined to 187.19°C in WCA10 film. WVP and OTR slightly changed in WCA5 (from 7.83 ± 0.07 and 2.57 ± 0.18 to 8.41 ± 0.03 g H2O.m/m2.Pa.s × 10−9 and 1.79 ± 0.32 cm3 O2/m2.d.bar, respectively), but significantly impaired in WCA10 compared to WC film. WCA5 and WCA10 films had high AA%, 68.77%, and 79.21%, respectively. WCA10 film presented great antimetrical properties against Staphylococcus aureus with an inhibition zone of 6.00 mm. The light transmission of RGA‐contained films in the UV spectrum was below 10%. The WCA5 film effectively restrained moisture loss and hardness increment until the end of the storage period, which were 14.33% and 28.76%, respectively, compared to day 0. Antioxidant films provided acceptable resistance against oxidation to EBF treatment. Sensory panels scored WCA5 and WCA10 higher in overall acceptance with 5.64 and 5.40 values, respectively, while complaining about the hardness of OPP treatment. The results of this investigation demonstrated that incorporating RGA, preferably 5 wt%, into WC‐based film effectively improved the qualitative properties of EFB during the 6‐month shelf life. This film might be a promising alternative for packaging light and oxygen‐sensitive food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) in the food and beverage industry has become a global trend. A study was undertaken to assess the level of awareness of South Africans of NNSs and to create a scientific product database of NNSs in a sample of packaged products in South Africa. A cross-sectional survey design was chosen. The study was carried out online in South Africa. The study participants were South African adults (n = 388). A consumer awareness survey on NNSs and a scientific product database were created to identify products formulated with NNSs. A large proportion of participants were unfamiliar with most NNSs by name; however, a significant 61% (n = 238) (p < 0.001) of participants were most aware of xylitol, and 45% (n = 174) were aware of aspartame. Despite this, a significant number of participants consumed products labelled 'sugar-free' and/or 'diet' (p < 0.001). Participants were aware of health concerns and health benefits associated with the consumption of NNSs. A scientific product database consisting of 419 products containing NNSs was created during the study. A combination of NNSs was used in the formulations of 65% (n = 273) of the products, while 35% (n = 146) of the products were formulated with a single NNS. The outcome of this research highlights key consumer insights into NNSs and their widespread use in product formulations in South Africa. The outcome of this study shows the need for continuous monitoring of the effects of the increasing use of NNSs in product formulation and their impact on health and diet. Consumer education would advance consumer awareness of NNSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Recently, the assimilation of pH‐sensitive natural pigments into biopolymers has shown promising prospects for pH‐reactive based smart packaging material. Unlike synthetic pigments, which have potential safety problems due to migration, natural pigments have negligible toxicity levels both to humans and the environment and some even possess nutritional and pharmacological properties. To complement the advantages of natural pigments, natural biopolymers have proven to be ideal candidates for the development of smart packaging because of their biocompatibility, availability, biodegradability, stability, minimum toxicity and good film‐forming capability. Smart packaging gives consumers real‐time signals on the quality of packaged food via food deterioration indicators like pH alteration. This review will consider the recent progress in the development of pH‐responsive smart packaging based on natural pH‐sensitive pigments and natural biopolymers from 2013 to the present. It will further discuss the challenges and opportunities of colorimetric smart packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In response to the growing concern of transmitting pathogenic viruses through food, this research aimed to assess the impact of various factors on the commercial packaging of meat (chicken and beef) on the inactivation of bacteriophage MS2 which was scrutinised by examining the influence of packaging type, bacteriophage spiking levels, temperature, as well as the meat shape and type. The findings revealed that the recovery of bacteriophage MS2 from minced beef was lower in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) compared with air packaging (AP) at both storage times, spiking levels, and freezing and refrigerating temperatures. On the other hand, the recovery of the bacteriophage from chopped beef was lower in AP than in MAP in refrigerating conditions at both spiking levels during the 3 days of storage. According to our findings, the recovery levels of bacteriophage MS2 from chicken had statistically significant differences in both packaging types at different spiking levels. Storage conditions and packaging type were the most essential parameters in bacteriophage MS2 viability. The lowest bacteriophage viability belonged to MAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of the characterization of the electrical resistivity of selected ceramic materials, namely aluminum nitride (AlN), silicon nitride (Si3N4), beryllium oxide (BeO), yttrium oxide (Y2O3), and non-ceramic silicon dioxide (SiO2), which are candidates for packaging silicon carbide (SiC) sensors and electronics that can operate at temperatures beyond 800°C. Samples of thesematerials were thermally cycled twice to 1200°C in nitrogen while the bulk and surface resistivities were measured in situ. Although the resistivity values of all samples dropped with increasing temperature, BeO maintained the relatively highest bulk and surface resistivity values at 1200°C of 28 and 34 kΩ cm, respectively, while AlN had the lowest values at 6.8 and 0.64 kΩ cm. In terms of viability for packaging SiC sensors for >800°C operation, AlN and Si3N4 are the choice candidates due to their lowest mismatches in the coefficient of thermal expansion with SiC. However, the relative resistivity stability of Si3N4 over AlN makes it a promising candidate, even with its lower thermal conductivity relative to AlN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several physical and chemical methods for synthesizing nanomaterials, while the most appropriate techniques involve using green chemistry and eco-friendly material. Recently, green synthesized materials for different applications have gained attention as a result of their environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness. Applying green synthesized nanoparticles (NPS) in food packaging has been extensively investigated. Biopolymers require filler to enhance the optical, barrier, thermal, antimicrobial, and mechanical properties of packaging. Biopolymer packaging incorporated with green synthesized NPs is expected to simultaneously enhance performance while reducing environmental damage. The current review article focuses on biopolymer films with bio (green)-synthesized nanomaterials and their effectiveness in reducing the negative environmental implications of synthetic packaging. It also covers the general concepts of green synthesis of NPs, their production methods, their performance, and characterization, and discusses the potential, performance and recent developments of bio-nanocomposite films/coatings in biodegradable food packaging. Recent reports and trends provide more insight into the impact of green synthesized nanomaterials on food packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]