Poly (lactic acid)/D‐limonene/ <scp>ZnO bio‐nanocomposites</scp> with antimicrobial properties

Antimicrobial films of poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/D-limonene/zinc oxide (ZnO)-based bio-nanocomposites were prepared via melt compounding and subsequent thermocompression. D-limonene was incorporated at concentrations 10 or 20 wt%, ZnO pure nanoparticles those organically modified with oleic acid (O-ZnO), an average diameter 13.5 nm, included 3, 5, 8 wt%. The plasticizing effect D-Limonene corroborated by a decrease in the glass transition temperature compared to PLA. presence O-ZnO PLA matrix promoted slight increase degree crystallinity due its nucleant performance. Although induced lower thermal stability slightly decreased microhardness composites, excellent antimicrobial performance demonstrated. Both nanocomposites reached 99.9% effectiveness for content above 5 regardless source irradiation, concentration, nanoparticle modification. Therefore, these will allow future advances sustainable materials medical food packaging fields.