D‐Limonene Coated Polylactic Acid‐Polyvinyl Acetate/Kaolinite Composites: A Sustainable Approach for Enhanced Food Packaging

ABSTRACT

Polylactic acid (PLA) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) blends show promise for sustainable packaging, although their limited thermo‐mechanical strength and absence of antimicrobial functionalities, restrict their wide applications. This study focuses on the development and characterization of PLA/PVAc‐based nanocomposite films, reinforced with 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 wt% of kaolinite nanoparticles to address these limitations. The nanocomposites were fabricated via the solution casting method, followed by D‐limonene coating to impart antimicrobial functionality. The FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of strong hydrogen bonding interactions among the hydroxyl (–OH), carbonyl (CO) and silanol (Si–OH) groups, while the XRD analysis revealed improved crystallinity, following kaolinite incorporation. The nanocomposite containing 1.5 wt% kaolinite exhibited optimal performance, with 35.6% improved tensile strength and maximum degradation temperature of 367.82°C, surpassing that of neat PLA along with a well‐dispersed morphology, as evident from FE‐SEM analysis. The D‐limonene coated composites exhibited effective antimicrobial activity, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) and Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), while maintaining cytocompatibility towards HEK‐293 cells. Furthermore, the films effectively extended the shelf life of black grapes, highlighting their potentials in active packaging applications and underscoring the nanocomposites' promise in enhancing food preservation, by extending postharvest shelflife and safety.