PREVENTING OF MIGRATION IN FOOD CONTACT POLYVINYL CHLORIDE-BASED STRETCH FILMS WITH POLYLACTIC ACID LAYER

Abstract

In this study, the effectiveness of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) coatings for the prevention of residues migrating through polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films was investigated. PLA films prepared in chloroform at concentrations of 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt% were heat sealed to PVC film surfaces in a hot press (130 °C, 5 min, 5 tons). Physical, mechanical, FTIR and migration analyses were performed on these two-layer films. With PLA coating, the thickness of the films increased, mechanical properties decreased and some changes in color values occurred. It was determined by FTIR that there was no structural change on both surfaces of the films as a result of hot pressing. From the overall migration analysis, no migration was observed in the tests with aqueous food simulants, while migration was detected in fatty food simulants. In the specific migration analysis by GC-MS, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) migration decreased by 50% with PLA coating. It is concluded that PLA coating of PVC stretch films may be a promising application to reduce migration.