Structural features of biobased composite foams revealed by X-ray tomography.

Polymer foams can have heterogeneous and complex internal structures, especially when material blends or particles have been integrated to create composites. It becomes even more challenging to probe and understand foam structure/properties when using non-uniform particles, such as biobased fillers. Optical or SEM imaging can only provide limited information as these are two-dimensional (2D) surface techniques.

Understanding intentionally and non-intentionally added substances and associated threshold of toxicological concern in post-consumer polyolefin for use as food packaging materials.

The use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) polymers in food contact materials (FCMs) can facilitate achieving a circular economy by reducing environmental waste and landfill accumulation. This study aimed to identify potentially harmful substances, including non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) and unapproved intentionally added substances (IAS), in polyolefin samples from material recovery facilities using gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry. Selected phthalates and bisphenols were quantified by targeted gas-chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry.

Global plastic waste recycling and extended producer responsibility laws.

In the USA, 8.66% of municipal solid waste (MSW) plastic was recycled and 75.9% landfilled (2018).

Evaluation of mixed #3-7 plastic waste from material recovery facilities (MRFs) in the United States.

Plastic recycling rates are still low in the United States (U.S.), with less than 10% of municipal solid waste (MSW) plastic being recycled.

Suitability of MRF Recovered Post-Consumer Polypropylene Applications in Extrusion Blow Molded Bottle Food Packaging.

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most abundant plastics used due to its low price, moldability, temperature and chemical resistance, and outstanding mechanical properties. Consequently, waste from plastic materials is anticipated to rapidly increase with continually increasing demand. When addressing the global problem of solid waste generation, post-consumer recycled materials are encouraged for use in new consumer and industrial products.

Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) Method for Determination of Total Fluorine and Total Organic Fluorine in Packaging Substrates.

Various testing methods and techniques have been used to identify and quantify per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging. A common indirect measurement of PFAS is total fluorine (TF) and total organic fluorine (TOF). These methods are critical in rapidly screening food packaging materials for the >9000 PFAS and are often globally used for regulatory limits.

Endocrine modulating chemicals in food packaging: A review of phthalates and bisphenols.

Phthalates and bisphenol chemicals have been widely used globally in packaging materials and consumer products for several decades. These highly functional chemicals have become a concern due to their toxicity (i.e.

Machine-Learning-Based Predictions of Polymer and Postconsumer Recycled Polymer Properties: A Comprehensive Review.

There has been a tremendous increase in demand for virgin and postconsumer recycled (PCR) polymers due to their wide range of chemical and physical characteristics. Despite the numerous potential benefits of using a data-driven approach to polymer design, major hurdles exist in the development of polymer informatics due to the complicated hierarchical polymer structures. In this review, a brief introduction on virgin polymer structure, PCR polymers, compatibilization of polymers to be recycled, and their characterization using sensor array technologies as well as factors affecting the polymer properties are provided.

Influence of Biofillers on the Properties of Regrind Crystalline Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (CPET).

As the demand for plastics only increases, new methods are required to economically and sustainably increase plastic usage without landfill and environmental accumulation. In addition, the use of biofillers is encouraged as a way to reduce the cost of the final resin by incorporating agricultural and industrial waste by-products, such as rice hulls and coffee chaff to further reduce waste being sent to landfills. Crystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate) (CPET) is a resin commonly used for microwave and ovenable food packaging containers that have not been fully explored for recycling.

Dataset of the properties of polyethylene (PE) blends of different densities mixed with post-consumer recycled polyethylene (PCRPE).

This paper compiles polymer characterization data collected from polyethylene (PE) blends composed of different densities (low-density, LDPE, linear low-density, LLDPE, medium-density, MDPE, and high-density, HDPE) and post-consumer recycled polyethylene (PCRPE), as presented by Cecon et al. (2021). The data were collected from injection molded samples submitted to several physical, thermal, and mechanical characterization techniques, including density, melt flow rate (MFR), thermogravimetric analysis, mechanical testing, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Self-assembly in biobased nanocomposites for multifunctionality and improved performance.

Concerns of petroleum dependence and environmental pollution prompt an urgent need for new sustainable approaches in developing polymeric products. Biobased polymers provide a potential solution, and biobased nanocomposites further enhance the performance and functionality of biobased polymers. Here we summarize the unique challenges and review recent progress in this field with an emphasis on self-assembly of inorganic nanoparticles.

Biobased superhydrophobic coating enabled by nanoparticle assembly.

Understanding biobased nanocomposites is critical in fabricating high performing sustainable materials. In this study, fundamental nanoparticle assembly structures at the nanoscale are examined and correlated with the macroscale properties of coatings formulated with these structures. Nanoparticle assembly mechanisms within biobased polymer matrices were probed using liquid-phase atomic force microscopy (AFM) and computational simulation.

Biobased foams for thermal insulation: material selection, processing, modelling, and performance.

With the urgent need for the development of sustainable materials and a circular economy, a surge of research regarding biobased materials and associated processing methods has resulted in many experimental biobased foams. Although several biobased foams are already shown to have thermal and mechanical properties competitive with expanded polystyrene, there remains a fundamental knowledge gap leading to limited understanding of the principles that determine performance. This review outlines the progress in this burgeoning field, introducing materials selection and processing, comparing performance, examining efforts in modelling physical properties, and discusses challenges in applying models to real biobased systems.

Significance of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food Packaging.

Food safety authorities and the food industry are focused on uses of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in various food-contact packaging applications. Not widely known until recently, certain PFAS occur in paper-based packaging materials typically at parts-per-billion to parts-per-million concentrations. These substances are nonintentionally added substances (NIAS) and are attributed to residues from recycled fiber and paperboard used in the manufacture of new food packaging products.

Thin Biobased Transparent UV-Blocking Coating Enabled by Nanoparticle Self-Assembly.

A waterborne, UV-blocking, and visually transparent nanocomposite coating was formulated with ZnO nanoparticles and 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC). The coating is highly effective (<5% UV and ∼65% visible transmittance), and the film thickness (0.2-2.

PFOA and PFOS levels in microwave paper packaging between 2005 and 2018.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are synthetic environmental pollutants previously used for packaging applications as a grease, oil, and water-resistant coating. Exposure reported in previous studies highlighting potential concerns with public health. This study evaluated performance of coated paper packaging used for microwave popcorn, snacks, and sandwich bags for presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).

Measurable and Influential Parameters That Influence Corrosion Performance Differences between Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Coating Material Combinations and Model Parent Material Combinations Derived from Epoxy-Amine Matrix Materials.

Protective coatings are often erroneously thought of as perfect environmental barriers for metal substrates; however, a host of corrosion inducing environmental contaminants permeate through defect-free coatings. Carbon nanotubes are high aspect ratio nanofillers with unique mechanical, electrical, and polymer interaction properties with well-established yet, for practical reasons, often unrealized potential. The research objective was to quantify and understand the influential effects and relationships between low concentration levels of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) dispersed into epoxy-amine matrix materials and the different water hydrogen bonding interactions on corrosion rates of steel substrates.