scholarly journals The Impact of the Addition of Compatibilizers on Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) Properties after Extrusion Process

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2688
Author(s):  
F.A.M.M. Gonçalves ◽  
Sandra M. A. Cruz ◽  
Jorge F. J. Coelho ◽  
Arménio C. Serra

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA), due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and renewability, is one of the most promising biobased polymers for replacing some of the petrol-based materials. Low flexibility of PLA is overcome, by blending it with olefin-based polymers, such as polypropylene (PP). However, the use of compatibilizing agents is required to attain final materials with suitable mechanical properties. Such agents, although essential, can affect PLA structure and, consequently, the mechanical properties of the PLA. To the best of our knowledge, this issue was never studied, and the results can contribute to achieving the best formulations of PLA-based blends according to their final applications. The thermal and mechanical properties of the extruded PLA, with three different commercial compatibilizing agents, were evaluated with the purpose of demonstrating how the compatibilizers can introduce structural differences into the PLA chain during the extrusion process. The combination of crystallinity, molecular weight, and the morphology of the samples after extrusion determines the final mechanical properties of PLA. Despite being a fundamental study, it is our aim to contribute to the sustainability of PLA-based industries. The addition of a 2.5% concentration of C1 compatibilizer seems to have less influence on the final morphology and mechanical properties of the blends.

2018 ◽  
Vol 916 ◽  
pp. 19-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirirat Wacharawichanant ◽  
Nisarat Wimonsupakit ◽  
Sasithorn Kuhaudomlap

The objective of this study is to fabricate the polyoxymethylene (POM)/microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/MCC composites, and to compare the effect of MCC on the morphology and mechanical properties of POM and PLA. The polymer composites were prepared by melt mixing in an internal mixer and molded by compression molding. The MCC concentrations were 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 10% by weight. From scanning electron microscopy study observes the fracture surface of POM and PLA composites is much rough and the roughness increases with increasing MCC content. This observation indicates MCC induces the ductile fracture characteristic of POM and PLA. The addition of MCC can improve the impact strength of PLA composite and improve Young’s modulus of both POM and PLA composites. While the tensile strength and strain at break decrease after adding MCC. In summary, MCC can enhance the morphology and mechanical properties of PLA composites is better than POM composites.


2013 ◽  
Vol 802 ◽  
pp. 144-148
Author(s):  
Jadsadaporn Chouaytan ◽  
Varaporn Tanrattanakul

This study showed the effect of different compounding methods on the impact resistance and tensile properties of poly(lactic acid) blended with cassava starch and natural rubber latex. Poly(ethylene glycol) was used as a plasticizer. It was found that the compounding method was important for the derived mechanical properties of the blend. Furthermore, cooling method of the extrudate also affected the mechanical properties of the blends. The air cooling in the extrusion process provided higher mechanical properties than the water cooling. This work also showed the effect of the natural rubber in the PLA/starch blend.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 2531
Author(s):  
Rodion Kopitzky

Sugar beet pulp (SBP) is a residue available in large quantities from the sugar industry, and can serve as a cost-effective bio-based and biodegradable filler for fully bio-based compounds based on bio-based polyesters. The heterogeneous cell structure of sugar beet suggests that the processing of SBP can affect the properties of the composite. An “Ultra-Rotor” type air turbulence mill was used to produce SBP particles of different sizes. These particles were processed in a twin-screw extruder with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and fillers to granules for possible marketable formulations. Different screw designs, compatibilizers and the use of glycerol as a thermoplasticization agent for SBP were also tested. The spherical, cubic, or ellipsoidal-like shaped particles of SBP are not suitable for usage as a fiber-like reinforcement. In addition, the fineness of ground SBP affects the mechanical properties because (i) a high proportion of polar surfaces leads to poor compatibility, and (ii) due to the inner structure of the particulate matter, the strength of the composite is limited to the cohesive strength of compressed sugar-cell compartments of the SBP. The compatibilization of the polymer–matrix–particle interface can be achieved by using compatibilizers of different types. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) fracture patterns show that the compatibilization can lead to both well-bonded particles and cohesive fracture patterns in the matrix. Nevertheless, the mechanical properties are limited by the impact and elongation behavior. Therefore, the applications of SBP-based composites must be well considered.


2017 ◽  
Vol 737 ◽  
pp. 269-274
Author(s):  
Sirirat Wacharawichanant ◽  
Chaninthon Ounyai ◽  
Ployvaree Rassamee

The effects of four types of organoclay on morphology and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/propylene-ethylene copolymer (PEC) blends were investigated. The ratio of PLA and PEC was 80/20 by weight and the organoclay content was 5 phr. The morphology analysis showed that the addition of all oganocaly types could improve the miscibility of PLA and PEC blends due to the decreased of the domain sizes of PEC dispersed phase in the polymer matrix. The tensile properties showed Young’s modulus of the PLA/PEC blends was improved after adding clay treated surface with 25-30 wt% trimethyl stearyl ammonium.


2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (43) ◽  
pp. 10945-10951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Ma ◽  
Jiajia Shen ◽  
Qun Yang ◽  
Jie Zhou ◽  
Shuangshuang Xia ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. 1383-1395
Author(s):  
Hongjuan Zheng ◽  
Zhengqian Sun ◽  
Hongjuan Zhang

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has good environmental compatibility, however, its high brittleness, slow rate of crystallization, and low heat distortion temperature restrict its widespread use. To overcome these limitations, in this study, PLA was mixed with walnut shell (WS) powders. The effects of WS powders on the morphology and the thermal and mechanical properties of PLA were investigated. The products were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and various mechanical property testing techniques. The results showed that WS powders had a significant effect on the morphology and the thermal and mechanical properties of PLA. The tensile strength, impact strength, and elongation at break of the PLA/WS composites first increased and then decreased with the increasing addition of WS powders. When the addition of WS powders was about 0.5 wt%, they reached maximum values of 51.2 MPa, 23.3 MPa, and 19.0%, respectively. Compared with neat PLA, the spherulite grain size of the composites could be reduced and many irregular polygons were formed during crystallization. The melting, cold crystallization, and glass-transition temperatures of the composites were lower than those of neat PLA.


Author(s):  
Jamileh Shojaeiarani ◽  
Dilpreet Bajwa

Biopolymers are emerging materials with numerous capabilities of minimizing the environmental hazards caused by synthetic materials. The competitive mechanical properties of bio-based poly(lactic acid) (PLA) reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have attracted a huge interest in improving the mechanical properties of the corresponding nanocomposites. To obtain optimal properties of PLA-CNC nanocomposites, the compatibility between PLA and CNCs needs to be improved through uniform dispersion of CNCs into PLA. The application of chemical surface functionalization technique is an essential step to improve the interaction between hydrophobic PLA and hydrophilic CNCs. In this study, a combination of a time-efficient esterification technique and masterbatch approach was used to improve the CNCs dispersibility in PLA. Nanocomposites reinforced by 1, 3, and 5 wt% functionalized CNCs were prepared using twin screw extrusion followed by injection molding process. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of pure PLA and nanocomposites were studied through tensile, impact and dynamic mechanical analysis. The impact fractured surfaces were characterized using scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical test results exhibited that tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of nanocomposites improved by 70% and 11% upon addition of functionalized CNCs into pure PLA. The elongation at break and impact strength of nanocomposites exhibited 43% and 35% increase as compared to pure PLA. The rough and irregular fracture surface in nanocomposites confirmed the higher ductility in PLA nanocomposites as compared to pure PLA. The incorporation of functionalized CNCs into PLA resulted in an increase in storage modulus and a decrease in tan δ intensity which was more profound in nanocomposites reinforced with 3 wt% functionalized CNCs.


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