PLA Nano‐Coated Jute Fabric for Sustainable Antibacterial Packaging Applications

Sustainability in packaging is currently a significant concern for addressing environmental problems associated with nonbiodegradable materials. Even though jute fabric is widely used as a conventional packaging material, it has limitations, such as a porous structure, and high moisture absorbance limits its ability to conserve the dry food grains, seeds, etc. To mitigate this, the electrospinning technique was performed by utilizing polylactic acid (PLA) for nanocoating on the jute fabric's surface. Three PLA ratios were tested and compared with traditional jute fabric. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated that nanofibers effectively linked the gap between yarns on the fabric's surface, while energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the atomic % of elements. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of all the functional components. Moisture management test (MMT) demonstrated successful resistance to water performance, and antibacterial assay showed effective inhibition against two common bacteria of the developed sample due to incorporation of antibacterial chemical. The thermal stability was confirmed from thermogravimetric (TG) analysis (up to 230°C) with improved heat resistance concentrations in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. From thermal conductivity and thermal resistance analysis, nano‐coated samples demonstrated reduced thermal conductivity with enhanced thermal resistance. PLA nano‐coated jute fabric presents a promising eco‐friendly alternative for packaging applications.