In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as a film-forming substrate, added to extracted tea polyphenols (TPs) in various ratios and processed with ultrasonication to form films using the tape-casting method. The effects of ultrasonic processing duration on the properties of PVA/TP antibacterial active materials were explored via material property testing. The results showed that, overall, ultrasonic processing degraded the tensile strength and elongation at break of the composite films. When PVA/TP composite films with a PVA-to-TP mass ratio of 8:2 were processed with ultrasonication for 30 min, the swelling capacity was (740.19 ± 64.67)% and solubility was (5.26 ± 1.31)%. Ultrasonication also improved the degradability and barrier properties of composite films. Moreover, 8/2 composite films with the PVA/TP ratio of 8:2 exhibited excellent bacteriostatic properties; after ultrasonication processing, the films had a bacteriostatic rate of (95.5 ± 4.2)% and (91.8 ± 3.7)% against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, making them suitable for use as antibacterial active materials in food packaging.

Novel fibers containing different ratios of PVA and d-limonene were fabricated using electrospinning for antibacterial active packaging applications. The PVA/d-limonene fibers were thoroughly characterized using a scanning electron microscope, fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, thermal gravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, tensile tests, and oxygen permeability tests. The results of these analyses showed that the highest tensile strength and elongation at break values of 3.87 ± 0.25 MPa and 55.62 ± 2.93%, respectively, were achieved for a PVA/d-limonene ratio of 7:3 (v/v) and an ultrasonication time of 15 min during processing. This material also showed the lowest oxygen permeation and the best degradability and bacteriostatic properties of all samples.