Research regarding the mechanical properties of some biodegradable polymeric composites for food packaging products

Abstract

Biodegradable polymers became one of the most important materials with large applicability, as they do not generate wastes after life cycle. An important application is food packaging fabricated by injection molding processing. In this paper, we present the investigation of the mechanical properties of some biodegradable polymers based on PLA composites obtained by melting processing and their morphology studied by SEM analyses, in comparison to polypropylene and neat PLA. We found out that tensile strength, elongation at break and Young modulus exhibit values appropriate to injection molding processing and they are very close related to crystalline or amorphous character of the materials.