The demands for sustainable packaging materials have increased interest in a new class of biomass-derived and biopolymers, such as zein protein, which are renewable, biodegradable, and water-insoluble, with excellent film-forming attributes and appealing barrier properties. However, the lack of mechanical robustness and low thermal stability of zeins impose a major limitation on their direct usage as packaging materials. As a result, extensive modifications, such as plasticization and incorporation of additives, are typically required to overcome the inherent deficiencies. In this study, corn zein was esterified to graft a fatty acid chain (decanoic acid) and blended with poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) at varying weight ratios to produce mZein/PBAT blend films via a melt extrusion process. The blends' phase morphology, rheology, thermal, mechanical and barrier properties were investigated. The fatty acid grafting on zein enabled enhanced interfacial bonding between mZein and PBAT, promoting the compatibility of the two immiscible phases in the blends. Blending modified zein with PBAT yielded balanced stiffness, strength, and elasticity without needing external compatibilizing agents. Furthermore, the oxygen permeability of the blends was shown to reduce by up to 59% compared to neat PBAT, and water vapor barrier performance was improved by 68% compared to neat mZein. These new blended mZein/PBAT films have the potential to provide an eco-friendly material that can be used in consumer bags, packaging films, and agricultural mulch films.

对可持续包装材料的需求增加了人们对新型生物质衍生的生物聚合物的兴趣，例如玉米醇溶蛋白，它是可再生的、可生物降解的、不溶于水的，具有优异的成膜特性和有吸引力的阻隔性能。然而，玉米醇溶蛋白缺乏机械强度和低热稳定性对其直接用作包装材料造成了重大限制。因此，通常需要进行广泛的修改，例如塑化和加入添加剂，以克服固有的缺陷。在这项研究中，玉米醇溶蛋白被酯化以接枝脂肪酸链（癸酸），并与聚（己二酸-对苯二甲酸丁二醇酯）（PBAT）以不同的重量比混合，通过熔融挤出工艺生产 mZein/PBAT 共混薄膜。共混物的相形态、流变学、研究了热性能、机械性能和阻隔性能。玉米醇溶蛋白上的脂肪酸接枝增强了 mZein 和 PBAT 之间的界面结合，促进了共混物中两个不混溶相的相容性。将改性玉米蛋白与 PBAT 混合可产生平衡的刚度、强度和弹性，无需外部增容剂。此外，与纯 PBAT 相比，共混物的透氧率降低了 59%，水蒸气阻隔性能比纯 mZein 提高了 68%。这些新型 mZein/PBAT 混合薄膜有潜力提供一种环保材料，可用于消费袋、包装薄膜和农用地膜。玉米醇溶蛋白上的脂肪酸接枝增强了 mZein 和 PBAT 之间的界面结合，促进了共混物中两个不混溶相的相容性。将改性玉米蛋白与 PBAT 混合可产生平衡的刚度、强度和弹性，无需外部增容剂。此外，与纯 PBAT 相比，共混物的透氧率降低了 59%，水蒸气阻隔性能比纯 mZein 提高了 68%。这些新型 mZein/PBAT 混合薄膜有潜力提供一种环保材料，可用于消费袋、包装薄膜和农用地膜。玉米醇溶蛋白上的脂肪酸接枝增强了 mZein 和 PBAT 之间的界面结合，促进了共混物中两个不混溶相的相容性。将改性玉米蛋白与 PBAT 混合可产生平衡的刚度、强度和弹性，无需外部增容剂。此外，与纯 PBAT 相比，共混物的透氧率降低了 59%，水蒸气阻隔性能比纯 mZein 提高了 68%。这些新型 mZein/PBAT 混合薄膜有潜力提供一种环保材料，可用于消费袋、包装薄膜和农用地膜。和弹性，无需外部增容剂。此外，与纯 PBAT 相比，共混物的透氧率降低了 59%，水蒸气阻隔性能比纯 mZein 提高了 68%。这些新型 mZein/PBAT 混合薄膜有潜力提供一种环保材料，可用于消费袋、包装薄膜和农用地膜。和弹性，无需外部增容剂。此外，与纯 PBAT 相比，共混物的透氧率降低了 59%，水蒸气阻隔性能比纯 mZein 提高了 68%。这些新型 mZein/PBAT 混合薄膜有潜力提供一种环保材料，可用于消费袋、包装薄膜和农用地膜。