• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.249-253
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• 2013

From poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) synthesized using $CO_2$, a PLA/PPC/PLA layered film is prepared by coextrusion and then stretched to uniaxial orientation. The mechanical, optical, and barrier properties and shrinkage of the prepared film were investigated in detail. The maximum shrinkage of PLA/PPC/PLA film reached to 60% at $75^{\circ}C$. With increasing PPC content, the ratio of shrinkage of the film was increased and its shrinkagerate was increased. The ratio of shrinkage of the film decreased with increasing stretching temperature. The prepared film has oxygen and vapor transmission barrier properties. In this study, the PLA/PPC/PLA film is expected to be commercialized as a environmentally friendly shrinkable film.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.582-587
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• 2012

In this paper, it was studied on the crystallization characteristics of PLA film by adding ammonium phosphate (APP) as a nucleation agent. Crystallinity and crystallite size of PLA film were determined by Scherrer equation. Crystallization rate constant of PLA film was calculated through Avrami equation. Film samples in the study were prepared by two steps. PLA films were prepared by adding 1, 5, and 10 wt%, respectively, at first and was secondly annealed at 130, 140, and $150^{\circ}C$. Crystallinity of pure PLA film was average 4.6% and those of PLA film with adding 1, 5, and 10 wt% APP were 12.2, 47.7, and 50.0%, respectively. Crystallite size of PLA film was average 28.0 nm and those of PLA film with adding 1, 5, and 10 wt% APP were 26.8, 24.0, and 19.0 nm, respectively. Crystallization rate constants of PLA film with 1 wt% APP were 2.12, 3.86, and 0.27 by annealing at 130, 140, and $150^{\circ}C$, respectively, where was higher than pure PLA film and those with adding 5 and 10 wt% APP, respectively.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.421-426
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• 2016

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable and renewable polymer, which represents a valuable alternative to plastic packaging films, often associated with environmental problems. In this study, we tested the suitability of PLA as a biodegradable packaging film and assessed the antimicrobial activity of lemongrass oil (LO), incorporated into the PLA film in different concentrations. To obtain the optimal physical properties for PLA films, tensile strength, elongation at break, and water vapor permeability were measured under different preparation conditions. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of the LO contained in the PLA film against Listeria monocytogenes was investigated by disc diffusion and viable cell count. Among all concentrations tested, 2% LO was the most suitable in terms of antimicrobial activity and physical properties of the PLA film. Based on these results, we used the PLA film containing 2% LO to pack pork sausages; after 12 d of storage at 4℃, the population of inoculated L. monocytogenes in the sausage samples wrapped with the PLA film containing 2% LO was reduced by 1.47 Log CFU/g compared with the control samples. Our data indicate that PLA films containing 2% LO represent a valuable means for antimicrobial sausage packaging.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2011

This research was conducted to compare the quality of paprika ($Capsicum$ $annuum$ L.) packed with PLA film and OPP/PE film pouches during storage at $6^{\circ}C$. Weight loss of paprika fruit was higher in OPP/PE film pouches, mold decay was shown in OPP/PE pouches after 6 days, but was not yet shown in PLA pouches. Hardness decreased in all packages. Soluble solid content was highest in PLA1 film pouch, vitamin C content was also highest in PLA2. Mold decay was not shown in PLA pouches after 9 day, but shown at calyx of paprika fruit in OPP/PE pouches. Off-flavor was strong in the OPP/PE pouches when the pouches were opened, decay was also serious in the same pouches after 15 days and thus quality was inadequate for sale in market.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2011

Soybean sprouts of 100 g were packed with commercial OPP/PE films and developed PLA films, and stored at $10^{\circ}C$ for 6 days. Effects of packaging film were investigated. The weight loss of OPP/PE film was higher than that of the PLA film. Total cell count of PLA2 and PLA3 packages was the lowest among 5 packages. Off-flavor was strong at OPP/PE, but that in PLA2 was very little. Vitamin C content of PLA2 was highest and preference test of PLA2 was also highest among 5 packages. Finally, the PLA packages for soybean sprouts was more suitable than OPP/PE.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2009

This study investigated the surface characteristics of polylactic acid (PLA) film after one atmospheric pressure plasma treatment. We used de-ionized water and diiodomethane as polar and non-polar solvents, respectively, for measuring contact angles, and subsequently calculated the surface free energy of PLA film. The contact angle and free energy of PLA surface were optimized at the treatment time of 30 sec, RF-power of 70 W, Ar gas flow rate of 6 lpm and air exposure time of 5 min. We analyzed the change of chemical functional groups on the surface of PLA film through XPS and were able to observe the change of polar functional groups such as -C=O, -CO, -COO on the surface of PLA film after one atmospheric pressure plasma treatment.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2012

In the study, the effects of $130{\sim}150^{\circ}C$ annealing condition and 1~10 wt% isopropylphenyl diphenyl phosphate (IPPP) on crystallization behavior and flame retardancy of a full name (PLA) film were determined. The crystallization kinetics of PLA films with adding 1, 5, and 10 wt% IPPP at $140^{\circ}C$ were higher than those at 130 and $150^{\circ}C$. The average crystallinity and crystallite size of PLA film with 1 wt% IPPP were 21.3% and 24.8 nm, respectively. With an increasing IPPP content, the crystallinity of PLA film increased and the crystallite size decreased. The burning rate lowered with an increasing IPPP content as well.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.43-46
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• 2011

Effect of several PLA films on strawberry packaging was investigated. Three types of PLA film (non-perforated PLA1, perforated films of PLA2 and PLA3) were used for packing strawberry and the fruit quality was measured during 6 day storage at 10. For comparison, two types of OPP/PE film (non-perforated OPP1 and perforated OPP2) were used for strawberry packaging. Weight loss of all the treatments was below 0.12% after 6 day, seeming to be in tolerable range. PLA3 package showed the best retention in fruit firmness, PLA2 and PLA3 packages the least changes in acidity, and PLA2 package gave the least changes of soluble solid content and vitamin C content. There have been no differences in surface color among packages. Perforated PLA films could be effective for use as packaging of strawberry.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.342-349
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• 2017

Polylactic acid (PLA) has been highlighted as an alternative renewable polymer for the replacement of petroleum-based plastic materials, and is considered to be biodegradable. On the other hand, the biodegradation of PLA by terminal degraders, such as microorganisms, requires a lengthy period in the natural environment, and its mechanism is not completely understood. PLA biodegradation studies have been conducted using mainly undefined mixed cultures, but only a few bacterial strains have been isolated and examined. For further characterization of PLA biodegradation, in this study, the PLA-degrading bacteria from digester sludge were isolated and identified using a polymer film-based screening method. The enrichment of sludge on PLA granules was conducted with the serial transference of a subculture into fresh media for 40 days, and the attached biofilm was inoculated on a PLA film on an agar plate. 3D optical microscopy showed that the isolates physically degraded the PLA film due to bacterial degradation. 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified the microbial colonies to be Pseudomonas sp. MYK1 and Bacillus sp. MYK2. The two isolates exhibited significantly higher specific gas production rates from PLA biodegradation compared with that of the initial sludge inoculum.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.305-311
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• 2013

PLA(polylactic acid), one of biodegradable polymers was blended with various amounts of wood pulp powder through solution blending technic to verify the effect of reinforcing pulp amount on the mechanical properties of blend films. Also these blend films were further modified with TDI(toluene diisocyanate) as crosslinking agent to introduce urethane functions by reaction of pulp hydroxyl groups and isocyanate. As a result, the tensile strength of blend film with 0.25 wt% pulp was increased from $565.25kg_f/cm^2$ for PLA film itself to $624.20kg_f/cm^2$. However, elongation of this film was decreased by 50% of that of PLA film itself. Only PLA/pulp blend film further modified with 500% of TDI/0.25 wt% pulp showed the slightly increased tensile strength but decreased elongation. Melting point and glass transition temperature of PLA/pulp blend films were confirmed by using Differential Scanning Calorimeter(DSC). Thermal stability of these blend films measured by TGA showed only a slight increase at temperature lower than $300^{\circ}C$.