Biodegradable high-moisture-barrier copolymer coating for PLA/PHA packaging
A polyisobutylene-b-PLA/PHA copolymer coating designed to provide both high moisture barrier performance (target WVTR below 0.3 g/m2/day) and biodegradability for PLA/PHA-based packaging cores. Incorporates inorganic porous nanofillers to further reduce water vapor transmission.
Overview
This solution introduces a polyisobutylene (PIB)-based copolymer coating engineered to deliver high moisture barrier protection while remaining biodegradable. The material is intended for coating biodegradable PLA/PHA packaging cores, addressing a key limitation of current bioplastics—poor moisture resistance. By combining the extremely low water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of PIB (0.01–0.001 g/m2/day) with biodegradable PLA and PHA segments, the copolymer offers a dual-function barrier layer suitable for sustainable packaging applications.
Technical specifications
- Copolymer design: PIB-b-PLA/PHA synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide using hydroxyl-terminated PIB as a macroinitiator and a tin-based catalyst; PHA monomers are incorporated to tune biodegradability and rheology.
- Barrier performance: Target WVTR below 0.3 g/m2/day, leveraging PIB's inherently low permeability and further enhanced by inorganic porous nanofillers such as hydrophobic fumed silica and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT).
- Adhesion and processing: Designed for strong adhesion to PLA/PHA core resins during co-extrusion, enabling integration into conventional film manufacturing workflows.
- Characterization: Copolymer structure confirmed by 1H-NMR; barrier and rheological properties evaluated as functions of PLA/PHA concentration, PHA monomer type, and nanofiller type and loading.
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at an early-stage proof-of-concept phase. Initial copolymer synthesis and characterization have been performed, with planned validation including evaluation of different molecular weight PIB-OH initiators, additional nanofiller benchmarking, and co-extrusion testing with WVTR characterization over a six-month period. The research team is seeking a partnership to provide co-extrusion equipment access, WVTR characterization support, and funding for key personnel.
About Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology is a large, technology‑focused public research university in Atlanta with a strong applied research culture. Industry engages through the Georgia Tech Research Institute for contract R&D, a Midtown innovation district with co‑located corporate labs, and a statewide manufacturing extension to support scale‑up. A long‑standing partnership with a major academic medical center enables clinical translation, and a large co‑op program delivers a steady talent pipeline. Research is backed by competitive federal funding from NSF, NIH, DOE, DoD, and NASA. Technology commercialization is managed by the Georgia Tech Research Corporation, with dedicated licensing, corporate contracting, and startup support.
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