Surface engineering of bio-additives for enhanced barrier properties in bioplastics
Innovative surface engineering of bio-based additives to improve thermo-mechanical and barrier properties of bioplastics for packaging, enhancing stability without compromising biodegradability and optimizing cost-effective reactive extrusion processes.
Overview
The surface engineering of bio-additives presents a transformative approach to enhance the barrier properties of bioplastics used in packaging. By functionalizing bio-based additives, this solution addresses the limitations of standalone bioplastics, which often suffer from inadequate thermo-mechanical and barrier capabilities. The developed method ensures improved stability and barrier properties against moisture, gas, and oil, while maintaining the biodegradability of the materials. This research optimizes reactive extrusion processes, providing a cost-effective means to achieve superior structure stability and mechanical properties.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Surface functionalization of bio-based additives with ester, hydroxyl, or carboxylic functionalities
- Optimization of reactive extrusion processes to enhance bioplastic formulations
- Utilization of bio-sourced citric acid and methyl ricinoleate for improved compatibility with biopolymers and bio-reinforcements
- Application of Twin Screw Extruders for high-quality blending and homogeneous dispersion
Testing procedures:
- Barrier testing includes water vapor transmission rate, oxygen permeability, and gas permeability
- Mechanical testing covers tensile strength, impact resistance, and tear strength
- Thermal analysis via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)
- Evaluation of rheology, stability, and compostability
Technology readiness level
This technology is currently at Technology Readiness Level 4, indicating that it has been validated in a laboratory environment. Future plans include further validation of bio-sourced materials and optimization of extrusion processes to ensure commercial viability.
About Lambton College
Lambton College is a career‑focused public college in Sarnia, Ontario, recognized for hands‑on, industry‑aligned applied research. Companies engage through three NSERC‑funded Technology Access Centres—the Lambton Manufacturing Innovation Centre, the Bio‑Industrial Process Research Centre, and the Digital Technology Lab—which provide contract R&D, prototyping, testing, and process optimization. Facilities include a BSL‑2 lab, a Natural Health Products lab, and the Canadian Extrusion Research Laboratory, with teams based on campus and at the adjacent Western Sarnia‑Lambton Research Park, enabling rapid validation and scale‑up alongside a major regional energy and chemical manufacturing cluster. Applied research is supported by funding from NSERC, Mitacs, the Ontario Centre of Innovation, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Research Fund, and FedDev Ontario programs. A dedicated commercialization function offers IP strategy and licensing support, augmented by resources from Intellectual Property Ontario.
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