Influence of modified natural rubbers as compatibilizers on the properties of flexible food contact materials based on NR/PBAT blends

Food contact materials based on thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR) were successfully developed from natural rubber (NR)/polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) blend. Influence of different compatibilizers (modified NR) including maleated natural rubber (MNR), natural rubber grafted polymethyl(methacrylate) (NR-g-PMMA), and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR-50) on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of TPNR was investigated. Addition of modified NRs as the compatibilizers evidently enhanced the mechanical properties of the resulting TPNR. The highest mechanical and thermal properties as well as the homogeneous dispersion of the TPNR can be achieved on using ENR as a compatibilizer. The overall migration limit (OML) of TPNR samples in aqueous food simulants was lower than the upper limit (10 mg/dm2) according to EU regulation No.10/2011. The developed TPNR exhibited better performance compared with the general-purpose polymers in terms of flexibility, recyclability, food contact ability, oil resistance and biodegradability.