Effect of natural and synthetic antioxidants incorporation on the gas permeation properties of poly(lactic acid) films

► PLA films with different contents of each antioxidant were prepared by the casting method. ► Effect of antioxidants on thermal, surface, water vapour and gas barrier properties of PLA films. ► Permeability towards water vapour and surface energy show a decreased in wettability of the prepared films. ► Carbon dioxide and oxygen permeation properties of PLA films can be improved by the incorporation of antioxidants. Gas permeation properties (permeability, diffusivity and solubility coefficients) were determined for carbon dioxide and oxygen in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films enriched with 0, 2, 4 and 10wt.% of different antioxidants, at three temperatures, 284, 293 and 303K, using a time-lag apparatus. Three antioxidants, a natural, α-tocopherol (AT), and two synthetic, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), were tested. DSC results show that the polymer glass transition temperature slightly decreases with the increase of the antioxidant content. The crystallinity degree of PLA films decreases with the addition of BHT and TBHQ, whereas the incorporation of AT increases the crystallinity of PLA films. The permeability towards water vapour, at 299K and 45% of relative humidity, and surface energy show a decreased in the wettability of the prepared materials with the increase of the antioxidants content. The incapacity to measure gas permeation in PLA films with 10wt.% of AT and BHT incorporated was due to phase separation, proved by SEM images. The CO2 and O2 permeation results show that PLA barrier properties can be improved by the incorporation of antioxidants but are strongly dependent on the amount and structure of the antioxidant added.