Biodegradable Foam Cushions as Ecofriendly Packaging Materials

Joo Seong Sohn, Hyun Keun Kim, Shin Won Kim, Youngjae Ryu and Sung Woon Cha
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Joo Seong Sohn: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
Hyun Keun Kim: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
Shin Won Kim: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
Youngjae Ryu: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
Sung Woon Cha: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: In this work, a high-magnification extrusion-foaming technique for biomass-based biodegradable composite materials using water vaporization was examined. Starch was selected as the biomass and polylactic acid was selected as a biodegradable matrix resin. No additional plasticizer or additives were used in this extrusion-foaming process. The foaming ratio was deduced according to the conditions of the extrusion-foaming process to confirm the forming characteristics of the foaming materials. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to examine the morphology of the composite foam. To investigate the potential of the foam cushion as an ecofriendly packing material, we conducted experiments on its static compression and dynamic cushioning properties and examined whether its biodegradability could be controlled by varying the mixing ratio of the materials. Thus, we developed a water-foaming process that is ecofriendly and whose products can be recycled as compost after use.

Keywords: biomass; starch; polylactic acid; extrusion; foaming process; foam cushion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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