Keratin–polyhydroxyalkanoate melt‐compounded composites with improved barrier properties of interest in food packaging applications

Sustainable biocomposite materials based on the combination of polyhydroxyalkanoates with a keratin additive derived from poultry feathers were successfully developed via melt compounding. Suitable dispersions for low loadings of the additive in the biopolymeric matrix were achieved by the melt‐mixing technique. A good physical interaction between the polymeric matrix and the additive was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Reductions in water, limonene, and oxygen permeability of the pure polymer to less than a half of its initial value for the composite containing 1 wt % of keratin additive were achieved. This composition was also found to exhibit optimum mechanical performance. As a result, these materials offer significant potential in fully renewable packaging applications based on polyhydroxyalkanoates with enhanced barrier performance. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39947.