Biodegradable Nanocomposites for Advanced Packaging

TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) proposes to develop a high barrier, biodegradable food packaging system that will address the issues of extended-life food storage and waste disposal in space. On long-term space missions, on board the International Space Station, or on future lunar or planetary facilities, a biodegradable food packaging plastic could be disposed of in hydroponic environments that support agricultural production. Several biodegradable polymers are commercially available, but they lack the barrier properties needed for food preservation. TDA proposes to improve the barrier properties of biodegradable plastics by forming a multi-layered laminate film containing biodegradable polymers modified with our proprietary nanocomposites. Much of TDA?s nanocomposite research has focused on the careful design of surface treatments to produce nanocomposites compatible with and dispersible in targeted host polymers. In Phase I, we demonstrated that we could improve the barrier properties of several individual films of biodegradable polymers. In Phase II we will meet high barrier packaging requirements by combining layers of biodegradable nanocomposites to achieve protection against both oxygen and water vapor permeation. We have shown that we can form well-dispersed nanocomposites with several biodegradable plastics and, in one example, have demonstrated improved barrier properties without a loss in biodegradation rates.