Enhancing The Mechanical and Barrier Properties of PLA Films: Biocomposite Development using Tomato Peel Extract
Bildiriler > Özet Bildiri · 2025
Yazarlar: Özlem ESMER, Aysima Yediler
Symposium on Functional Materials Science and Engineering (SFME 2025), Türkiye, Mersin, Ulusal, Sözlü Sunum, Özet Bildiri, 2025-2025, ss 36-36
Özet
<p>Petroleum-derived materials are commonly used nowadays for their advantages such as low cost and easy processability. The high production and usage of these materials cause many problems for the world. According to a 2022 OECD report, the world now produces twice as much plastic waste as it did 20 years ago, and only 9% is successfully recycled [1]. Plastics accumulate in the environment due to their long degradation processes, causing environmental pollution. One possible solution to these issues is to develop a new biocomposite material as a substitute for commercial plastics. Biodegradable plastics are the plastics that are produced from sources such as corn starch, recycled food waste etc. Among bioplastics, Polylactic acid (PLA) is the most promising biopolymer due to its excellent optical properties, relatively high mechanical strength, hardness, heat processability, and lower cost than other biopolymers. PLA is the market leader in the bio-based and biodegradable plastics segment [2]. On the other hand, its brittleness, high oxygen permeability, and water vapor permeability are the main drawbacks which restricts the use of PLA in the packaging industry. To improve PLA's properties for food packaging, plant fibers from agricultural wastes can be used [3]. In this study, Tomato Peel Extract (TPE) was incorporated into biocomposite films, as tomatoes are among the most widely consumed fruits globally, and their processing produces waste—such as seeds, pulp, and peels—that contributes to environmental pollution. Various ratios of TPE (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% w/w) were incorporated into PLA, and PLA-TPE biocomposite films were produced by coating method to examine the impact of TPE on the mechanical and permeability properties of PLA. The TPE was obtained through an alkaline extraction method. The PLA/TPE biocomposite films were analysed in tensile strength, elongation at break, young modulus, oxygen transmission rate and water vapor transmission rate.</p>