A review on innovations in polymeric nanocomposite packaging materials and electrical sensors for food and agriculture

Abstract

The application of polymer nanocomposites packaging materials in industrial, food and agricultural products is a superior alternative to traditional packaging materials such as glass, paper, and metals due to their functionalization, flexibility, and minimal cost. However, usage of these materials has been hindered due to their inferior mechanical and barrier behaviors, which are susceptible to improvement through inclusion of functionalized reinforcing macro- or nano?llers. Furthermore, most reinforced materials exhibit inferior matrix–?ller interfacial interactions, which are enhanced with reducing ?ller dimensions. Hence, this review elucidates functionalization of composites interfacial interaction and its relationship to enhancement of the properties of packaging materials, especially antimicrobial tendencies, enzyme immobilization behavior, biosensing affinity, and so on. Thus, a fundamental understanding of interfacial structure and its relationship to the overall improvement of properties are presented. Therefore, nanomaterials, such as cellulose, nanoclay, halloysite nanotubes, carbon allotropes (graphene and carbon nanotubes), silica, and so on, are discussed relative to their surface treatment approaches and effects on composites films properties for effective packaging. Recently, emerging innovations in nanostructured polymeric composite materials and electrical-sensors, their current applications and future outlook as food, agricultural and industrial packaging materials are also herewith elucidated.