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Processing Compostable PLA/Organoclay Bionanocomposite Foams by Supercritical CO2 Foaming for Sustainable Food Packaging

Publicated to:Polymers. 14 (20): 4394- - 2022-10-01 14(20), DOI: 10.3390/polym14204394

Authors: Faba, Simon; Arrieta, Marina P; Aguero, Angel; Torres, Alejandra; Romero, Julio; Rojas, Adrian; Galotto, Maria Jose

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Abstract

This article proposes a foaming method using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) to obtain compostable bionanocomposite foams based on PLA and organoclay (C30B) where this bionanocomposite was fabricated by a previous hot melt extrusion step. Neat PLA films and PLA/C30B films (1, 2, and 3 wt.%) were obtained by using a melt extrusion process followed by a film forming process obtaining films with thicknesses between 500 and 600 mu m. Films were further processed into foams in a high-pressure cell with scCO(2) under constant conditions of pressure (25 MPa) and temperature (130 degrees C) for 30 min. Bionanocomposite PLA foams evidenced a closed cell and uniform cell structure; however, neat PLA presented a poor cell structure and thick cell walls. The thermal stability was significantly enhanced in the bionanocomposite foam samples by the good dispersion of nanoclays due to scCO(2), as demonstrated by X-ray diffraction analysis. The bionanocomposite foams showed improved overall mechanical performance due to well-dispersed nanoclays promoting increased interfacial adhesion with the polymeric matrix. The water uptake behavior of bionanocomposite foams showed that they practically did not absorb water during the first week of immersion in water. Finally, PLA foams were disintegrated under standard composting conditions at higher rates than PLA films, showing their sustainable character. Thus, PLA bionanocomposite foams obtained by batch supercritical foaming seem to be a sustainable option to replace non-biodegradable expanded polystyrene, and they represent a promising alternative to be considered in applications such as food packaging and other products.

Keywords

BehaviorBio-nanocompositeCarbon dioxideCellsCytologyDegradationExtrusionFilmsFoamingFoamsFood packagingHot-melt extrusionsKineticsMelt extrusion processMelt spinningNano claysNanocomposite foamsNanocompositesOrganoclayOrganoclaysPackagingPerformancePlaSupercritical carbondioxidesSupercritical co 2Supercritical fluid extractionX ray powder diffraction

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Polymers due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position 16/86, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Polymer Science.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.21. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.42 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 2.56 (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-06, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 14
  • Scopus: 17
  • Europe PMC: 8
  • OpenCitations: 12

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-06:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 49.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 47 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 1.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Chile; United States of America.