Influence of different gamma radiation doses on the physical, chemical and thermal properties of antimicrobial active packaging of poly (butylene adipate co-terephthalate) (PBAT) films additivated with orange essential oil

Gamma radiation is a common sterilization technique utilized in the packaging of raw and processed foods; it acts retarding the microbial growth in packaged foods, however, depending on the dose, the radiation can modify the chemical structure of the polymers in the packaging. In this study, different doses of 10, 25 and 50 kGy were applied in PBAT films additivated with orange essential oil, and their physical, chemical and thermal properties were investigated. The results of the principal components analysis of the films showed that the applied doses altered the chemical structures of the films, the DSC of the films showed a reduction of their crystallization temperature and an increase in their enthalpy of fusion, indicating a cross-linking, the TGA of the samples revealed that the material remained stable with the doses applied, additionally, the films became more resistant and rigid without losing their elastic behavior. At last, the analyses presented that the additivated PBAT films did not suffer major modifications in their structure due to irradiation, indicating a good radiolytic stability of the PBAT.