Development of Modified Bamboo Powder/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Barrier Packaging Composite Films for Strawberry Preservation

Abstract

To address the ecological issues caused by petroleum-based plastic packaging, it is crucial to develop environmentally friendly materials with specific mechanical and barrier properties. Herein, natural bamboo powder was surface-modified using a silane coupling agent and subsequently blended with water-soluble synthetic polymer poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to prepare the MBP/PVA composite film via a feasible casting method. The MBP established a good interfacial interaction with the PVA matrix, effectively improving the composite films’ mechanical and barrier properties. Results showed that the MBP/PVA composite films possessed an advantageous tensile strength of 27.63 MPa and specific barrier properties, with a water contact angle of 110.48°, a water vapor permeability of 0.64 g/cm·s·Pa, and an oxygen permeability of 0.46 cm3/m2·24 h·0.1 MPa, revealing obviously increased mechanical and barrier properties compared to the pure PVA film. Moreover, the composite film displayed excellent UV resistance. Finally, the composite film was used as a packaging film for strawberry storage in a practical application. The study indicated that the MBP/PVA composite film could slow down browning and weight loss, exhibiting a favorable effect on fresh strawberry preservation at room temperature. Thus, the eco-friendly bamboo-based composite film has shown great potential for fruit packaging and preservation applications, providing a feasible and green alternative to bio-based agricultural product packaging materials.