Polyhydroxyalkanoates as Packaging Materials: Current Applications and Future Prospects - Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Based Blends, Composites and Nanocomposites - page 197

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Figure 8.6 Barrier properties of commercial PHA resins compared to other bio- and
oil-based polymers used for packaging, as measured by oxygen and water
permeabilities, (PS1540: Polystyrene from Arkema; PP7712: Polypropyl-
ene from Total Chemical Company; PLA7001D: Poly(lactic acid) from
Natureworks; P228: PHA from Biomer; MirelF1006 & 3002: PHA from
Metabolix; Enmal Y1000P: PHA from Tianin Biologic; PA MXD6: PHA
from Mitsubishi Chemical Company).
Adapted from Ref. 58.

Another commendable strategy of PHA barrier enhancement lies in the
use of other biodegradable biopolymer additives. The seminal work in-
volving adding keratin additives to PHAs through melt compounding using
waste chicken feathers demonstrated how small quantities of additive
(1 wt% keratin) added to P(3HB-co-3HV) could result in a significant re-
duction in water permeability of 59%, as well as a reduction in oxygen
permeability of 67% and a reduction to limonene penetration (an organic
aroma model compound) of 65%. 51

8.6.5.2 PHAs as Additives for Barrier Enhancement
In a similar strategy to that used to improve the thermal properties of
polymers, PHAs have been used as additives to improve the barrier