Page 44 - Plastics news December 2023

US researchers use biopolymers to replace synthetic plastic films
consumer goods.However, according
to Velev, combining chitosan and aga-
rose may not be enough, as previous
efforts to manufacture similar types
of mixtures only reported improve-
ments in properties and eventually
created a ‘gritty film’, which may not
have enough strength. Velev is now
working with his team using a differ-
ent approach to reinforce agarose
films with fibrillated colloidal scale
chitosan-made material, referred to
as ‘soft dendritic colloids’.
he solution was found to be bio- could serve as a sustainable alterna-
Tdegradable, transparent, water- tive to replace petroleum-based plas- Kotb said: “It is challenging to modify
resistant, and antibacterial. tic films. natural polymers chemically, but we
can alter their morphology and use
Researchers from North Carolina Chitosan, a biopolymer that makes them as composites.
(NC) State University have found that crab shells durable, when combined
biopolymers obtained from the ocean with another biopolymer derived “We use chitosan dendritic particles
to reinforce agarose matrix because
can be used to replace synthetic, pe- from seaweed (agarose), can create of compatibility of both materials
troleum-based plastic films. a new biopolymer composite film leading to good mechanical proper-
Authors of the research paper, pub- that offers high strength.The films are ties; chitosan particles also have an
lished in the Cell Reports Physical biodegradable, transparent, water-re- opposite charge to agarose. “When
Science journal, include NC State sistant, and have various antibacterial mixed, these charges are neutralised
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineer- properties. so the resulting materials also become
ing researcher S Frank, Orlin Velev, The findings also highlighted that bi- more resistant to water.”
distinguished Professor Doris Culber- opolymer composites are nearly four
son, and NC State PhD graduate and times stronger than sole agarose films The team has filed a patent applica-
tion for this biopolymer composite
first author of the paper, Yosra Kotb. and can resist the E. coli bacterium. film solution and its process of crea-
The research showed that materials The NC State team can now further
obtained from crustaceans and sea- support the development of sustain- tion.
weed had enhanced structure and able packaging films for food and

Team Messe Dusseldorf in India to showcase Drupa 2024

eam Messe Dusseldorf kicked
Toff its Drupa 2024 India Yatra in
Mumbai on 13 December 2023 with a
late evening event at the JW Marrriot,
Juhu, which saw close to 50 partici-
pants comprising CEOs of the print
companies and media.
The second Drupa 2024 India Yatra
was held in New Delhi on 13 Decem-
ber, and the third will be held tomor-
row, 15 December, in Chennai.

44 PLASTICS NEWSASTICS NEWS December 2023
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