Biodegradability assessment of cork polymer composites for sustainable packaging applications
A dramatic challenge for the environment is the sharp rise in fossil-based plastic waste, which is brought on by increased consumption of these materials in large scale, and by a poor waste management system globally. Therefore, it is worth to think about how to contribute to solve this issue. As a...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Next Materials |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949822825004228 |
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| author | Lisete Garrido Moutinho Eduardo Soares Martinho Oliveira |
| author_facet | Lisete Garrido Moutinho Eduardo Soares Martinho Oliveira |
| author_sort | Lisete Garrido Moutinho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A dramatic challenge for the environment is the sharp rise in fossil-based plastic waste, which is brought on by increased consumption of these materials in large scale, and by a poor waste management system globally. Therefore, it is worth to think about how to contribute to solve this issue. As a result, biodegradable polymers emerged, preserving some useful qualities of conventional polymers but able to biodegrade under certain conditions without damaging the environment. Biodegradable polymers present some drawbacks in terms mechanical performance that can be mitigated by the use on natural fillers resulting in biocomposites. This work presents a study on the biodegradability of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) based cork polymer composites (CPC) intended for sustainable packaging applications. CPC biocomposites were subjected to 12 weeks of soil burial test (SBT) and the samples were analyzed before and after 7 and 12 weeks of SBT. Morphological inspection, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, weight loss monitoring, contact angle measurements and gel permeation chromatography were conducted to characterize the samples and their evolution under degradation conditions. The results obtained indicate that cork has an influence on the degradation profile of the PLA polymeric matrix. CPC presenting lower degradation signs. This effect might be relevant for the lifespan of PLA based biocomposites on packaging materials during shelf-life and use. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3306b3a32e3b4692a315f89845c7d4f1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2949-8228 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Next Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-3306b3a32e3b4692a315f89845c7d4f12025-08-20T03:30:09ZengElsevierNext Materials2949-82282025-07-01810090410.1016/j.nxmate.2025.100904Biodegradability assessment of cork polymer composites for sustainable packaging applicationsLisete Garrido Moutinho0Eduardo Soares1Martinho Oliveira2School of Design, Management and Production Technologies, University of Aveiro, Estrada do Cercal, nº449, 3720-509 Santiago de Riba-Ul, Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal; Amorim Cork Solutions, Rua Comendador Américo Ferreira Amorim 260, Mozelos 4535-186, Portugal; EMaRT Group – Emerging: Materials, Research,Technology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Aveiro Institute of Materials (CICECO), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Corresponding author at: School of Design, Management and Production Technologies, University of Aveiro, Estrada do Cercal, nº449, 3720-509 Santiago de Riba-Ul, Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal.Amorim Cork Solutions, Rua Comendador Américo Ferreira Amorim 260, Mozelos 4535-186, PortugalSchool of Design, Management and Production Technologies, University of Aveiro, Estrada do Cercal, nº449, 3720-509 Santiago de Riba-Ul, Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal; EMaRT Group – Emerging: Materials, Research,Technology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Aveiro Institute of Materials (CICECO), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, PortugalA dramatic challenge for the environment is the sharp rise in fossil-based plastic waste, which is brought on by increased consumption of these materials in large scale, and by a poor waste management system globally. Therefore, it is worth to think about how to contribute to solve this issue. As a result, biodegradable polymers emerged, preserving some useful qualities of conventional polymers but able to biodegrade under certain conditions without damaging the environment. Biodegradable polymers present some drawbacks in terms mechanical performance that can be mitigated by the use on natural fillers resulting in biocomposites. This work presents a study on the biodegradability of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) based cork polymer composites (CPC) intended for sustainable packaging applications. CPC biocomposites were subjected to 12 weeks of soil burial test (SBT) and the samples were analyzed before and after 7 and 12 weeks of SBT. Morphological inspection, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, weight loss monitoring, contact angle measurements and gel permeation chromatography were conducted to characterize the samples and their evolution under degradation conditions. The results obtained indicate that cork has an influence on the degradation profile of the PLA polymeric matrix. CPC presenting lower degradation signs. This effect might be relevant for the lifespan of PLA based biocomposites on packaging materials during shelf-life and use.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949822825004228CorkBiopolymersBiodegradabilityBiocomposite |
| spellingShingle | Lisete Garrido Moutinho Eduardo Soares Martinho Oliveira Biodegradability assessment of cork polymer composites for sustainable packaging applications Next Materials Cork Biopolymers Biodegradability Biocomposite |
| title | Biodegradability assessment of cork polymer composites for sustainable packaging applications |
| title_full | Biodegradability assessment of cork polymer composites for sustainable packaging applications |
| title_fullStr | Biodegradability assessment of cork polymer composites for sustainable packaging applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biodegradability assessment of cork polymer composites for sustainable packaging applications |
| title_short | Biodegradability assessment of cork polymer composites for sustainable packaging applications |
| title_sort | biodegradability assessment of cork polymer composites for sustainable packaging applications |
| topic | Cork Biopolymers Biodegradability Biocomposite |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949822825004228 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lisetegarridomoutinho biodegradabilityassessmentofcorkpolymercompositesforsustainablepackagingapplications AT eduardosoares biodegradabilityassessmentofcorkpolymercompositesforsustainablepackagingapplications AT martinhooliveira biodegradabilityassessmentofcorkpolymercompositesforsustainablepackagingapplications |