Preparation of Multi level Porous Packaging Film Using Vascular Micro Network Template: Radiation Refrigeration, Self Enhancement, and Closed loop Recyclability

Research Overview: According to the study published in Volume 58 of Food Packaging and Shelf Life (December 2026), authors Weina Guo, He Zhu, Liyao Cao, Hua Shen, Guangbiao Xu, and Wenliang Xue proposed a packaging film preparation strategy using vascular micro networks as templates. The film has a multi-level pore structure, and research focuses on three performance aspects: radiative cooling, self enhancement, and closed-loop recyclability. The above information comes from publicly available bibliographic data at the level of paper titles and abstracts.

Structural design and performance direction

The key to research lies in the combination of the two elements of “template” and “multi-level hole”.

. The vascular micro network serves as a template to guide the formation of cross scale pore distribution within the membrane; The multi-level pore structure involves the synergy of different pore size levels simultaneously. The title of the paper clearly points to three types of target performance: radiative cooling, self enhancement, and closed-loop recyclability. This means that the film is not designed as a single functional material, but rather attempts to balance thermal management, mechanical performance, and end recovery within the same structure. For packaging materials, radiation refrigeration refers to the ability of packaging to regulate the thermal environment during storage, transportation, and display; Self strengthening refers to the maintenance of mechanical properties of thin films under the premise of thinning or reducing external reinforcing components; Closed loop recyclability refers to the recycling path of the film after use. The simultaneous appearance of the three in a study reflects that packaging film development is shifting from a single barrier or strength indicator to multifunctional integration and full lifecycle considerations.

The significance of the polymer additive industry

The multi-level pore structure places higher demands on material stability during processing and use.

. The increase in pore interface area makes the film more susceptible to thermal oxidative aging during hot processing such as extrusion, casting, or biaxially stretching. Therefore, stable processing becomes a practical prerequisite for whether such structures can be implemented. In such systems, the selection and addition of antioxidants need to be matched with the porous surface morphology, in order to suppress degradation during processing and avoid rapid migration or precipitation of additives during long-term use. The food packaging scene also brings compliance constraints for food contact. Porous structures may alter the migration behavior of substances towards food simulants, and the assessment of the migration of additives and degradation products needs to be included in the design phase. For films made from recycled materials or planned for closed-loop recycling, the antioxidant system also needs to consider maintaining performance under multiple thermal histories and compensating for stability when blending recycled materials with new materials. If a closed-loop recyclable design requires a single material or easily separable structure, the formulation of additives should also be simplified accordingly to avoid becoming a source of performance fluctuations in recycled materials.

Issues to be observed

Currently, public information only covers the title and bibliographic information of the paper, and the specific substrate resin, pore size, refrigeration power, mechanical improvement amplitude, recycling process route, and food contact test results of the film have not been disclosed.

. This strategy is moving from research to industrialization of packaging materials, but evidence still needs to be accumulated in areas such as continuous processing windows, compatibility between additives and porous structures, migration compliance data, and closed-loop verification of recycled materials.

Information source:Vascular micro-network-templated packaging films with hierarchical porosity: Radiative cooling, self-reinforcement, and closed-loop recyclability， Organized by Herun Chemical.