New Year Offer End Date: 30th April 2024
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Program

Biopolymer Composites for Sustainable Packaging: From Formulation to Performance & Scale-Up

Formulate Smarter Biopolymer Composites—Build Packaging That Performs and Scales

Skills you will gain:

About Program:

Sustainable packaging is accelerating the shift away from conventional plastics toward biopolymers and bio-based composites that can reduce environmental impact while maintaining performance. However, pure biopolymers often face limitations such as brittleness, moisture sensitivity, and low thermal stability. Biopolymer composites solve these challenges by combining polymers (PLA, PHA, starch blends, cellulose-based systems, chitosan, alginate) with reinforcements and functional additives (nanocellulose, clays, natural fibers, plasticizers, compatibilizers) to tailor properties for real packaging demands.

This workshop provides a structured pathway from formulation to testing and scale-up, focusing on key design decisions: polymer selection, filler choice, dispersion strategies, compatibilization, and processing routes like extrusion, compression molding, solvent casting, and coating. Participants will learn how to interpret performance data (tensile strength, elongation, WVTR/OTR, DSC/TGA, aging) and how to translate lab formulations into scalable, consistent packaging-grade materials that meet functional and sustainability goals.

Aim: This workshop aims to train participants in designing biopolymer-based composite materials for sustainable packaging applications. It covers formulation strategies using biopolymers and functional fillers to achieve targeted mechanical, barrier, and thermal performance. Participants will learn how to evaluate material properties, improve processability, and align formulations with packaging requirements. The program also introduces scale-up considerations and industry-relevant quality testing.

Program Objectives:

  • Understand packaging performance requirements and how biopolymer composites meet them.
  • Learn formulation design: polymer selection, fillers, plasticizers, and compatibilizers.
  • Understand processing routes and dispersion/compatibilization strategies.
  • Evaluate properties: mechanical, barrier, thermal, aging, and biodegradation indicators.
  • Translate lab formulations into scalable, consistent, packaging-ready materials.

What you will learn?

Day 1: Foundations of Biopolymers & Composite Design for Packaging

  • What makes a polymer “bio-based” vs “biodegradable” (and why it matters)
  • Key packaging requirements: stiffness, toughness, sealability, clarity, barrier, heat resistance, food contact, cost
  • Matrices: PLA, PBS/PBSA, PHA, starch blends, cellulose derivatives, chitosan, alginate, protein-based films
  • Reinforcements & additives: cellulose fibers/nanocellulose, starch granules, clays (MMT), CaCO₃, silica, lignin, waxes, plasticizers, compatibilizers, crosslinkers
  • Simple formulation design sheet + decision matrix (property-to-material mapping)
  • Basic predictive thinking: rule-of-mixtures + barrier tortuosity concept
  • Tools: Granta EduPack , decision matrix sheet ,,Avogadro 

Day 2: Processing & Fabrication Routes (Lab-to-Industry)

  • Film casting vs melt extrusion
  • Mixing & dispersion: solvent mixing, melt compounding, ultrasonication, masterbatch approach
  • Plasticization, compatibilization, reactive blending (practical do’s & don’ts)
  • Film blowing / cast film (concepts)
  • Sheet extrusion + thermoforming basics
  • Coatings & laminates for barrier improvement
  • Heat sealing & seal integrity overview
  • Viscosity/flow behavior & processing window
  • Tools: ImageJ/Fiji, Rheology data template ,COMSOL

Day 3: Performance Testing, Standards & Research-Grade Reporting

  • Mechanical: tensile strength, elongation, puncture resistance, tear resistance
  • Barrier: WVTR, OTR, grease resistance, aroma barrier
  • Thermal: DSC/TGA basics, heat distortion relevance, storage stability
  • Surface & morphology: contact angle, SEM basics for dispersion (conceptual)
  • Compostability vs biodegradation vs disintegration
  • Designing for recyclability and circular economy (when biodegradability isn’t best)
  • Packaging testing landscape: ASTM/ISO basics (tensile, barrier, compostability)
  • How to compare formulations fairly (controls, thickness normalization, replicates)
  • Tools: Excel, FTIR (ATR), DSC/TGA, WVTR/OTR 

Mentor Profile

Fee Plan

INR 1999 /- OR USD 50

Get an e-Certificate of Participation!

2024Certfiacte

Intended For :

  • Doctoral Scholars & Researchers: PhD candidates seeking to integrate computational workflows into their molecular research.
  • Postdoctoral Fellows: Early-career scientists aiming to enhance their data-driven publication profile.
  • University Faculty: Professors and HODs interested in modern bioinformatics pedagogy and tool mastery.
  • Industry Scientists: R&D professionals from the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical sectors transitioning to genomic-driven discovery.
  • Postgraduate Students: Final-year PG students looking for specialized research-grade exposure beyond standard curricula.

Career Supporting Skills

Formulation Compounding Extrusion Coating Dispersion Compatibilization BarrierTesting

Program Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

  • Select suitable biopolymers and additives for specific packaging use-cases.
  • Design formulations to improve strength, flexibility, and barrier performance.
  • Choose processing methods and troubleshoot dispersion/compatibilization issues.
  • Interpret test data (mechanical, thermal, barrier) to refine formulations.
  • Plan scale-up and quality testing steps for packaging-grade production.