Effect of ultrahigh-pressure treatment on the functional properties of poly(lactic acid)/ZnO nanocomposite food packaging film

BACKGROUND Our living environment is being increasingly polluted by petroleum-based plastics and there is an increasing demand for biodegradable food packaging. In this study, the effect of various ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) treatments (0, 200 and 400 MPa) on the microstructure and thermal, barrier and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/ZnO nanocomposite films was studied. RESULTS The film-forming solution was processed using UHP technology. The crystallinity, strength and stiffness of the composite film after UHP treatment increased. In addition, barrier property analysis showed that the UHP treatment significantly (P