Sewwandi Jaburegoda Pathiranage
PhD Researcher | School of Chemistry & Physics | QUT
September 2025 – January 2026 | 4 months
Company Spotlight
Plantic Technologies is a Melbourne-based leader in renewable and compostable packaging. Using non-GMO corn starch, Plantic™ materials deliver high-barrier performance for food packaging while remaining biodegradable and recyclable. With global partnerships and decades of R&D, Plantic is driving innovation for a circular plastics economy.
Placement Overview
During her placement at Plantic Technologies Ltd., Sewwandi contributed to the development of new biodegradable resin coatings and product testing. Working within the R&D laboratory, she carried out FTIR analysis, rheological assessments, and physical testing of packaging films to support product development and quality assurance activities. She also assisted with solubility and dissolution studies for a customer project, helping evaluate film performance for commercial applications. The placement provided valuable hands‑on industry experience and strengthened her understanding of how biopolymer research translates into sustainable packaging solutions.
Skills Developed
- FTIR analysis for identifying materials and detecting impurities
- Rheological characterisation using RVA for resin flow behaviour
- Quality control testing: haze, seal strength, impact resistance
- Solubility and dissolution assessments for biodegradable films
- Technical reporting and documentation for R&D activities
- Collaboration across R&D and production teams
- Time‑management and prioritisation in an industrial laboratory setting
Outcomes
- Completed solubility and dissolution test protocol for MonoSol films
- Prepared reports for multiple product and material analyses
- Gained proficiency in a wide range of instruments (RVA, tensile tester, impact tester, FTIR, colour analysis tools, heat sealer, moisture analyser, optical microscopy)
- Contributed technical data supporting resin development and product quality evaluation
Sewwandi says:
“This placement gave me hands‑on industry experience and a deeper understanding of biopolymer film development and analysis. The support from the Plantic team helped me expand my technical skills and see how sustainable materials progress from the lab to real‑world applications.”
