Polymer-based bionanocomposites for future packaging materials

Abstract

Packaging technology is mainly dealing with the safety storage and hygienic handling of daily needs and undergoes in continuous modification with time as per the choice of the consumers. With the ever-increasing market race, psychological aspect of the consumer behavior is also reflected in the packaging technology. For easy production and low cost of synthetic plastic materials, it has won the prime interest in packaging field. But, environmental issues lead the system to run behind the fabrication of eco-friendly bionanocomposites with incorporation of nanomaterials in renewable, biodegradable polymers in order to obtain bionanocomposites with improved fire retardant, oxygen barrier, thermal and mechanical properties. This chapter focusses some important basics of polymer-based bionanocomposites for packaging applications. The mechanical, fare retardant, thermal and gas barrier properties are improved substantially with incorporation of nanomaterials with biopolymers. Herein, the commercial, physiological and safety aspects of packaging materials are also discussed for the promotion of polymer-based nanocomposite as a future smart material for packaging products.