Biodegradable Polypropylene (PP) film with ECM prooxidant additives for food packaging application: A case study

Prooxidant additives represent a promising solution to the problem of environmental polymer waste. Its accelerate the photo- and thermo-oxidation of the materials and consequently, going throw a polymer chain cleavage, make the materials more susceptible to biodegradation. The aim of this work was to test the ECM prooxidant additive into a Polypropylene polymer film, usually used in the food packaging field, in order to understand the performance of the resulting material. Multilayer type films (Polymer/Al film/paper) used for biscuit packaging and other film samples by comparison were analysed. Thermal (DTA/TG, DSC), mechanical (stress/strain curves evaluation) and barrier properties to O2 and CO2 gas of film samples where evaluated. Spectroscopic FTIR/ATR analysis was also performed. In comparison a Polylactic acid (PLA) biodegradable polymer was used. Tests were performed before and after food contact. The materials used in the research were supplied from an Italian Industry and are normally used to package biscuits. Films were made in PP, with ECM additives as prooxidant for polymer materials, to make the polymer biodegradable.