Polymer Nanocomposites for Food Packaging Applications

Abstract

Polymers are widely used in packaging of food, chemicals, medicines, industrial components, agriculture, and household items as listed in Table 26.1. Polymer consumption has an average growth rate of 5% and it will touch a gure of 227 million metric tons in 2015. Criteria for selection of a particular polymer for packaging is its biodegradability, migration of hazardous compounds, barrier properties, processability, strength, and inertness. Polymers are made to order in a variety of fashions using additives, functionalization, crosslinking, and so on for a particular application. A successful packaging material should be able to maintain the quality of the packed commodities to meet the customers’ expectation as it moves from manufacturer to customer. © 2017 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.