Recent advances in polyvinyl alcohol-based composite films and their applications in food packaging

The challenges posed by the non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastics in food packaging have sparked interest in biodegradable films. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is one of the promising biodegradable polymers due to its biodegradability, non-toxicity, and excellent physical, mechanical, and film-forming properties. This review paper summarizes the recently published papers on PVA films blended with different polymers (e.g., chitosan, starch, CMC, and gelatin), reinforced with several functional materials [e.g., essential oils, nanocellulose, lignin, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)] or supported with a combination of biopolymer-functional materials. The effects of polymers and functional substances on the transparency, UV protection properties, mechanical properties, thermal stability, antibacterial activity, antiox-idant activity, and pH-indicator (color change) properties of PVA-based films are discussed.

Automated summary

This review paper summarizes the recent research on Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films blended with different polymers, reinforced with functional materials and supported with a combination of biopolymer-functional materials. The effects of these factors on the properties of PVA-based films are discussed, including transparency, UV protection, mechanical properties, thermal stability, antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, and pH-indicator properties.