MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FOOD BIODEGRADABLE FILMS BASED ON WHEAT STARCH AND PCL

The rise in environmental awareness and the tightening of regulatory requirements (e.g., UN directives on sustainable development) are driving the transition from traditional plastics to biodegradable alternatives. In the food industry, such materials are particularly in demand for the production of packaging films that must combine functionality, safety, and the ability to degrade in natural conditions. Modern trends in the development of biodegradable packaging focus on creating environmentally safe materials with high functionality and economic efficiency. Of particular interest are blends of polycaprolactone (PCL) and starch, which can combine biodegradability with the necessary mechanical and barrier properties. This study examines the effect of the composition of starch-PCL composites on their mechanical properties and proposes a mathematical model for predicting film strength based on various compositional parameters. Experimental studies included the preparation of granules and films using extrusion and subsequent determination of strength characteristics. The application of mathematical modeling made it possible to identify optimal film compositions that ensure the required balance of strength, flexibility, and biodegradability. The results obtained confirm the feasibility of using PCL and starch blends as an alternative to traditional plastic packaging materials, while the developed model may be useful for further improving biodegradable film production technologies.

1. Bangar S.P., Whiteside W.S. Nano-cellulose reinforced starch bio composite films-A review on green composites // International journal of biological macromolecules. — 2021. — Т. 185. — C. 849-860.

2. Contessa C.R., Rosa G.S. da, Moraes C.C., Burkert J.F. de M. Agar-Agar and Chitosan as Precursors in the Synthesis of Functional Film for Foods: A Review // Macromol. — 2023. — Т. 3. — № 2. — C. 275-289.

3. da Silva Bruni A.R., da Silva Alves E., da Costa J.C.M., Friedrichsen J. de S.A., Silva L.G.Z., de Oliveira Santos Junior O., Bonafé E.G. Extending the Postharvest Shelf Life of Strawberries Through a κ-Carrageenan/Starch-Based Coating Enriched with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles // ACS Food Science & Technology. — 2024. — Т. 4. — № 12. — C. 2967-2979.

4. Ghosh T., Roy S., Khan A., Mondal K., Ezati P., Rhim J.-W. Agricultural waste-derived cellulose nanocrystals for sustainable active food packaging applications // Food Hydrocolloids. — 2024. — C. 110141.

5. Madhumitha G., Fowsiya J., Mohana Roopan S., Thakur V.K. Recent advances in starch–clay nanocomposites // International Journal of Polymer Analysis and Characterization. — 2018. — Т. 23. — № 4. — C. 331-345.

6. Park S.Y., Kim J.-Y., Youn H.J., Choi J.W. Utilization of lignin fractions in UV resistant lignin-PLA biocomposites via lignin-lactide grafting // International journal of biological macromolecules. — 2019. — Т. 138. — C. 1029-1034.

7. Di Lorenzo M.L. Poly (l-lactic acid)/poly (butylene succinate) biobased biodegradable blends // Polymer Reviews. — 2021. — Т. 61. — № 3. — C. 457-492.

8. Gupta V.M., Biswas D., Roy S. A Comprehensive Review of Biodegradable Polymer-Based Films and Coatings and Their Food Packaging Applications // Materials. — 2022. — Т. 15.

9. Rocha M., Souza M.M. de, Prentice C. Biodegradable Films: An Alternative Food Packaging. — 2018. — C. 307-342.

10. Calva-Estrada S.J., Jiménez‐Fernández M., Lugo-Cervantes E. Protein-Based Films: Advances in the Development of Biomaterials Applicable to Food Packaging // Food Engineering Reviews. — 2019. — Т. 11. — C. 78-92.

11. Cazón P., Velazquez G., Ramírez J.A., Vázquez M. Polysaccharide-based films and coatings for food packaging: A review // Food Hydrocolloids. — 2017. — Т. 68. — C. 136-148.

12. Ramos M., Govindan S., Al-Jumaily A. Property Improvement of Polybutylene Succinate (PBS), Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and Polylactic Acid (PLA) Films with PCL (Polycaprolactone) for Flexible Packaging Application // Materials Science Forum. — 2023. — Т. 1087. — C. 41-50.

13. Sydow Z., Bieńczak K. The overview on the use of natural fibers reinforced composites for food packaging // Journal of Natural Fibers. — 2019. — Т. 16. — C. 1189-1200.

14. Aung S.P.S., Shein H.H.H., Aye K.N., Nwe N. Environment-Friendly Biopolymers for Food Packaging: Starch, Protein, and Poly-lactic Acid (PLA). — 2018.

15. Siddiqui M., Redhwi H., Tsagkalias I., Vouvoudi E.C., Achilias D. Development of Bio-Composites with Enhanced Antioxidant Activity Based on Poly(lactic acid) with Thymol, Carvacrol, Limonene, or Cinnamaldehyde for Active Food Packaging // Polymers. — 2021. — Т. 13.

16. Musioł M., Sikorska W., Adamus G., Janeczek H., Kowalczuk M., Rydz J. (Bio)degradable polymers as a potential material for food packaging: studies on the (bio)degradation process of PLA/(R,S)-PHB rigid foils under industrial composting conditions // European Food Research and Technology. — 2016. — Т. 242. — C. 815-823.

17. Woodruff M.A., Hutmacher D.W. The return of a forgotten polymer—Polycaprolactone in the 21st century // Progress in polymer science. — 2010. — Т. 35. — № 10. — C. 1217-1256.

18. Silvestre C., Duraccio D., Cimmino S. Food packaging based on polymer nanomaterials // Progress in polymer science. — 2011. — Т. 36. — № 12. — C. 1766-1782.

19. Gutiérrez T.J., Mendieta J.R., Ortega-Toro R. In-depth study from gluten/PCL-based food packaging films obtained under reactive extrusion conditions using chrome octanoate as a potential food grade catalyst // Food Hydrocolloids. — 2021. — Т. 111. — C. 106255.

20. Kulkarni A., Reiche J., Kratz K., Kamusewitz H., Sokolov I., Lendlein A. Enzymatic chain scission kinetics of poly (ε-caprolactone) monolayers // Langmuir. — 2007. — Т. 23. — № 24. — C. 12202-12207.

21. Matzinos P., Tserki V., Gianikouris C., Pavlidou E., Panayiotou C. Processing and characterization of LDPE/starch/PCL blends // European Polymer Journal. — 2002. — Т. 38. — № 9. — C. 1713-1720.

22. Matzinos P., Tserki V., Kontoyiannis A., Panayiotou C. Processing and characterization of starch/polycaprolactone products // Polymer Degradation and Stability. — 2002. — Т. 77. — № 1. — C. 17-24.

23. Sun Y., Hu Q., Qian J., Li T., Ma P., Shi D., Dong W., Chen M. Preparation and properties of thermoplastic poly (caprolactone) composites containing high amount of esterified starch without plasticizer // Carbohydrate polymers. — 2016. — Т. 139. — C. 28-34.

24. Laurienzo P., Malinconico M., Mattia G., Romano G. Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized Crosslinkable Poly (ε‐caprolactone) // Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics. — 2006. — Т. 207. — № 20. — C. 1861-1869.

25. Imre B., García L., Puglia D., Vilaplana F. Reactive compatibilization of plant polysaccharides and biobased polymers: Review on current strategies, expectations and reality // Carbohydrate Polymers. — 2019. — Т. 209. — C. 20-37.

26. Ye J., Hu X., Luo S., Liu W., Chen J., Zeng Z., Liu C. Properties of starch after extrusion: A review // Starch‐Stärke. — 2018. — Т. 70. — № 11-12. — C. 1700110.

27. Shakoor A., Azam K., Khan S., Ullah A. Toughening PLA composites with natural fibers and enR // SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition at Troy, Michigan, USA from 11th to 13th September. — 2012.

28. Baptista C., Azagury A., Shin H., Baker C.M., Ly E., Lee R., Mathiowitz E. The effect of temperature and pressure on polycaprolactone morphology // Polymer. — 2020. — Т. 191. — C. 122227.