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Melt-blended PLA/curcumin-cross-linked polyurethane film for enhanced UV-shielding ability

e-Polymers 2023 15 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Xuya Fu, Xuya Fu, Tao Zhang, Wenshuo Zhang, Yuye Zhong, Yuye Zhong, Shuliang Fang, Shuliang Fang, Guannan Wang, Ying Li, Yajun Deng, Xinghai Liu, Houbin Li

Summary

A biomass film was developed by melt-blending polylactic acid (PLA) with curcumin-crosslinked castor oil-based polyurethane, producing a material with strong UV-shielding ability and enhanced mechanical properties. The fully bio-based film is proposed as a sustainable plastic replacement for food packaging applications.

Polymers

Abstract Biomass films with ultraviolet (UV)-shielding ability have attracted considerable attention. Curcumin was introduced into castor oil-based polyurethane (CCPU) as a chain extender, which was melt with polylactic acid (PLA) as a reinforcement to obtain biomass UV-shielding film. The excellent UV absorption and antioxidant qualities of curcumin contributed to the impressive UV-shielding capacity (97.6% UV radiation absorption) and antioxidant (51% free radical scavenging) of PLA/CCPU-20 film. In the scanning electron microscopic images of film fracture, the mixing of CCPU elastomer into the PLA matrix caused the blend films to exhibit significant toughening fracture characteristics compared to the pure PLA film. The excellent thermal stability, low water swelling degree, and low water solubility of PLA/CCPU blend films were maintained after CCPU was added to the PLA matrix. Therefore, the PLA/CCPU blend films can be considered as a potential packaging material because of its favorable UV-shielding properties and film stability.

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