11th International Seminar on Polymer Science and

Technology
Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, Iran
6-9 October 2014

Production of starch/LDPE/clay composite packaging films with improved

antimicrobial property and printability

Majid Pirooz 1, Amir H. Navarchian* 2, Giti Emtiazi 3

1, 2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Isfahan, P.O. Box 81746-
73441, Isfahan, I.R. Iran
3. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan
Abstract
A (50-50%) blend of thermoplastic starch and low density polyethylene (LDPE) with citric acid-modified
montmorillonite (CMMT) as filler was used to produce packaging films. The composite film was produced in
a twin screw extruder followed by a chilled-roll system. The antimicrobial property of resulted films was
improved by sorbitol. The surface printability of starch/LDPE/CMMT films were enhanced by grafting
acrylonitrile onto the film surface.

Keywords: composite, starch, antimicrobial property, printability, packaging film

Introduction found to be inadequate because of poor anchorage of

The great consumption of synthetic polymers in
packaging applications, and their resistance against
biodegradation have made these materials as one of
the main pollutants of the environment. Polymeric
materials are the potential source of carbon and
energy for heterotrophic microorganisms in several
ways. The high molecular weight and entanglements
of polymer chains however, retard the
biodegradation and aging processes of these
materials [1].
Starch is a natural polymer that is known to be
completely biodegradable in soil and water [2].
Starch/PE blend has already been used as packaging
films [3]. Montmorillonite (MMT), as an
environmentally-friendly layered silicate, has been
successfully used to prepare thermoplastic
starch/clay (TPS/clay) composites by melt
intercalation method. Experimental results have
already revealed that MMT can be dispersed well in
the TPS matrix and the TPS/clay composites
exhibited high tensile strength, thermal stability and
moisture barrier properties than TPS itself [4].
The antimicrobial packaging is a promising method
to protect food from microbial contamination with
no need of using synthetic additives in food
composition [5]. On the other hand, the printability
of unmodified starch-blended LDPE films has been
ink and coating materials. [6].
In this work the starch/LDPE/clay composites were
prepared in a twin screw extruder and a chilled-roll
system was used to film preparation. The
antimicrobial properties and surface printability of
the resulted films were then improved.
Experimntal
Material used
Corn starch was obtained from Glucosan Co.
(Ghazvin, Iran), with 10.1 % water content.
Acrylonitrile monomer (99% purity), ceric
ammonium nitrite (CAN) as initiator, and the other
chemicals and solvents were obtained from Merck
(Germany) and were used as received. A film grade
low density polyethylene (LDPE) (LF0200, MFI=2
) was supplied by BIPC (Bandar Imam, Iran).
Alkyd resin-based paint from Barak Co. (Qom, Iran)
was used.
Printability test
The printability test corresponded to ISO 2409, was
done giving a qualitative adhesion of an adhesive
tape and pulling it out, strongly. The sample got a
mark on the scale of 1 to 10 (1 for the worst and 10
for the best printability) [9].

*Navarchian@eng.ui.ac.ir
 11th International Seminar on Polymer Science and
Technology
Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, Iran
6-9 October 2014

Antimicrobial test
Antimicrobial properties of the samples were
examined according to disc diffusion method against
a Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas

*Navarchian@eng.ui.ac.ir
 11th International Seminar on Polymer Science and
Technology
Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, Iran
6-9 October 2014

aeruginosa and a Gram-positive bacterium 3. Pushpadass, H. A., Bhandari, P., Hanna, M. A.

Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibition zone diameter Carbohydr. Polym. , 82(4), 1082-1089, 2010.
of samples was measured and reported after 4. Qiao, X., Jiang, W., Sun, K. Starch‐Stärke,
incubation at 37 for 24 h [10]. 57(12), 581-586, 2005.
5. Llorens, A., Lloret, E., Picouet, P. A., Trbojevich,
Atomic Force Microscopy 6. R., Fernandez, A., Trends Food Sci. Technol., 24,
Atomic force microscopy was performed using a 19-29, 2012.
FTS-S4C (Taylor Hobson, Pennsylvania, USA) 7. Ramos, M., Beltran, A., Valdes, A., Peltzer, M. A.,
apparatus. Jimenez, A., J. Bioequiv. Availab., 5, 154-160, 2013.
Results and Discussion 8. Jana, T., Roy, B. C., Ghosh, R., Maiti, S., J. appl.
Antimicrobial test Polym. Sci., 79, 1273-1277, 2001.
The results of antimicrobial test are shown in Table Joerger, R. D. Pack. Tech. Sci., 20(4), 231-273,
1. The results showed that the amount of sorbitol 2007.
plays an important role in antimicrobial property of 9. Ghosh, R. N., Jana, T., Ray, B. C., Adhikari, B.,
the film. Sorbitol accumulates in bacteria cell, and Polym. International., 53, 339-343, 2004.
therefore causes osmotic effect [11]. Accumulation 10. Huang, M., Yu, J., & Ma, X., Carbohydr.
of sorbitol change water concentration in bacteria Polym., 63, 393-399, 2006.
cell and permeability of cell membrane. Osmotic 11. Majdzadeh-Ardakani, K., Navarchian, A. H.,
effect causes water migration into bacteria [12], and Sadeghi, F., Carbohydr. Polym., 79, 547-554, 2010.
this in turn increases the volume of bacteria cell and 12. Barr, M., Tice, L. F., J. American
finally causes cell rupture [13]. Pharmaceutical Association, 46, 217-218, 1957.
13. Macknight, A. D. C.,Kidney and Blood Press.
Printability test Res., 11, 114-141, 1988.
Table 2 shows adhesion marks obtained from 14. Koch, A. L., J. bacteriology, 159, 919-924,
printability test. 1984.
According to Table 2 grafting% affects the
printability of the film. As the percentage of grafting Table 1. Antimicrobial test results
increases, the concentration of polar cyanide groups Sorbitol Inhibition diameter(-)
on the surface also goes up, so the adhesion of the Sample content Pseudomona Staphylococcu
ink to the film surface increases, too [14]. In (%) s aeruginosa s aureus
addition, the grafting increases the surface 1 15 - +
roughness. The average roughness of the sample 2 20 + ++
number 3 increased from 4.17 µm to 16.46 µm. The 3 25 ++ ++
surface roughness is expected to help adhesion -: no inhibition zone, +: inhibition diameter<10
because of the increased surface area for bonding mm, ++: inhibition diameter>10 mm
and mechanical interlocking [8].
Conclusion Table 2. Printability test results
A starch/LDPE/clay composite film was produced Adhesion
by twin screw extruder and chilled-roll system. The Sample number Grafting (%)
Score
antimicrobial property was improved by using
1 0 1
sorbitol as starch plasticizer. Printability test showed
2 5 3
that the grafting of AN onto the starch/LDPE/clay
3 10 6
film results in good paint adhesion.
4 15 8
References
1. Navarchian, A. H., Sharafi, A., Kermanshahi, R.
K., J. Polym. Environ., 21, 233-244, 2013.
2. Majdzadeh-Ardakani, K., Navarchian, A. H.,
Sadeghi, F. Carbohydr. polym., 79(3), 547-554,
2010.