NUKLEONIKA 2011, 56(1):65-69

 


EFFECT OF IONIZING RADIATION ON THE PROPERTIES OF PLA PACKAGING MATERIALS



Krzysztof Melski1, Hieronim Kubera1, Wojciech Głuszewski2, Zbigniew Zimek2

1 Department of Commodity Science, The Poznań University of Economics,
10 Niepodległości Ave., 61-875 Poznań, Poland
2 Centre for Radiation Research and Technology,
Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology,
16 Dorodna Str., 03-195 Warsaw, Poland

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is attractive as a substitute for classical polymer packaging material due to its biodegradability and sufficient mechanical and barrier properties. Presented research was focused on the changes of basic mechanical parameters after ionizing irradiation performed with doses in the range of 2.5–25 kGy, commonly used in radiation sterilization and preservation of foods. Two commercial available PLA packaging films were tested. The influence of radiation dose on the mechanical properties – tensile strength and elongation were determined using standardized methods. Radiation resistance of PLA is sufficient for packaging applications. The investigations of gas products of radiolysis of PLA have been made by gas chromatography after electron beam (EB) irradiations.

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