Impact of Accelerated Aging on the Performance Characteristics of “Green” Packaging Material of Polylactide

Abstract

The paper presents the result of the research on the impact of the accelerated aging process on selected operational properties of polylactide films containing natural antioxidants in the form of coffee, cocoa or cinnamon extracts. The research was focused on mechanical properties important for the packaging industry from the point of view of the reliability of the obtained products, i.e. tensile strength, relative deformation at maximum stress, relative deformation at break, Young’s modulus, impact strength and storage module at various temperatures. The extracts have a positive effect on the determined mechanical properties. The obtained results were very often better not only than the values obtained for pure polymer, but also better than the values obtained for the film containing the synthetic anti-aging compound. It can therefore be concluded that the proposed plant extracts will have a positive effect on the stability of the mechanical properties of the manufactured products, which will allow long-term, reliable and safe operation of packaging. Proposed extracts can therefore be an alternative to the previously used synthetic anti-aging additives.