EXPLOITING NANOTECHNOLOGY AND RADIATION TECHNOLOGIES TO DEVELOP NEW ECO-SUSTAINABLE NANOMATERIALS FOR FOOD PACKAGING SUITABLE FOR STERILIZATION BY IRRADIATION

The object of the study is to develop new food packaging nanomaterials based on biopolymers (PLA) to be used in pre-packaged foods intended for radiation. The processing conditions were optimized, and the properties of the systems before irradiation were studied. From these studies, the following conclusions were drawn:1) The final properties of polymer nanocomposites depend on their structure and morphology, and 2) Improved properties can be achieved only if a good dispersion and distribution are realized in the polymer nanomaterials. The team at Istituto di Chimica e Tecnologia dei Polimeri, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ICTP/CNR) partecipated in the IAEA CRP on " Application of Radiation Processing Tecnology in the Development of Advanced Packaging Materials for food Products".