Preparationand Properties of Nonleaching AntimicrobialLinear Low-Density Polyethylene Films.

Antimicrobial packaging films havebeen widely used in variousapplications. However, because of concerns regarding safe food andconsumer demands for preservative-free products, the antimicrobialagents applied to packaging have to be highly effective and the leachingeffect is not allowed. In the present work, the antimicrobial agentpolyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride was compounded with starchto prepare antimicrobial thermoplastic starch (ATPS). ATPS was thenmelt-blended with linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) to preparethe novel antimicrobial packaging film. The resultant LLDPE/ATPS filmsexhibited excellent antimicrobial properties against Escherichiacoliin the shaking-flask test. The ring-diffusion test furtherconfirmed the nonleaching effect of the films. However, the additionof ATPS decreased the crystallinity of LLDPE. Both rheological analysisand scanning electron microscopy images indicated that a high ATPScontent might result in poor compatibility even in the presence ofa compatibilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]