Food Packaging Potential of Some Novel Degradable Starch-Polyethylene Plastics

Abstract

The food-packaging potential of 12 degradable starch-polyethylene films contg. corn starch, low- or high-mol.-wt. oxidized polyethylene and prooxidant (Polyclean II) was evaluated. Mech. properties of the films were affected more by acids than by alkali, but the films were stable in paraffin oil. Starch in the films did not impair heat-sealing ability. Water vapor transmission increased with increasing starch content but was not affected by oxidized polyethylene. Oxygen and carbon dioxide permeability were not affected by starch or oxidized polyethylene, but nitrogen permeability was affected by starch. Oil oxidn. was stimulated by prooxidant and high-mol.-wt. oxidized polyethylene in films. Film starch content, oxygen permeability, and water permeability did not accelerate microbial growth, and the mech. properties of most films were not reduced after use. These results suggest that these degradable starch-polyethylene films have some potential for use as primary food containers for some food products and storage requirements