Materials and technologies – November 2020

Bioplastics
University of Toronto researchers have shown that tree bark extracts can be used to make a BPA-free epoxy resin. The resin can be mixed with a hardener to create an adhesive.
Fraunhofer researchers are working with 11 other partners in the HyperBioCoat project to improve the characteristics of bioplastics. They want to develop a bio-based, biodegradable coating for rigid and flexible packaging.
ScienceDaily reports that Northeastern University researchers have designed tableware made from sugarcane and bamboo that doesn't sacrifice on convenience or functionality and could be an alternative for disposable plastic containers. An article (abstract) is published in Matter.
University of Ioannina research (193 kB) on the use of alginates (biopolymers from algae) as food packaging materials is published in Foods. In another article (2.8 MB) published in Foods, University Politechnica of Bucharest researchers give an overview of trends and perspectives for biodegradable antimicrobial food packaging.

Oxo-degradable plastics
In a letter, REA and other organisations call on the UK Government to stop the sale of oxo-(bio)degradable plastics. The letter follows the news that BSI has published ‘PAS 9017 Plastics – Biodegradation of polyolefins in an open-air terrestrial environment– Specification.’

Nanomaterials in food packaging
Lodz University of Technology researchers have published an article (1.84 MB) in Polymers on bacterial nanocellulose for active and intelligent food packaging. In an article (1.73 MB) published in Environmental Chemistry Letters, University Islamabad-Lahore Campus researchers review renewable cellulosic nanocomposites for food packaging. In an article (1.99 MB) published in Nanomaterials, University of Minho researchers give an overview of nanocellulose bio-based composites for food packaging.

Active and intelligent packaging
NTU Singapore researchers have developed an AI-powered ‘electronic nose’ to assess meat freshness. According to the researchers, the system can be easily integrated into packaging materials. An article (3.56 MB) about the research is published in Advanced Materials.
In an article (556 kB) published in Heliyon, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi researchers study the effect of modified and controlled atmosphere storage on orchids.

Cooling material inspired by camel fur
Inspired by camel fur, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a new two-layered material that could provide extended cooling to preserve the freshness of perishable goods. An article (2.78 MB) about the research is published in Joule.

Weak spots in packaging paper
Graz University of Technology research (5.08 MB) on identifying the weak spots in packaging paper is published in Cellulose.

Prices for wood and plastics
FEFPEB warns that tighter supplies of wood in some markets is expected to increase prices. In a related article (in Dutch), EPV looks at the situation in the Netherlands.
Dutch trade magazine Vraag en Aanbod publishes a weekly overview of the prices for plastics (in Dutch). The prices given are estimated averages between the gross prices published in the trade journals and the net prices.
 

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