scholarly journals Compatibilization of Poly(Lactic Acid) (PLA) and Bio-Based Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Rubber (EPDM) via Reactive Extrusion with Different Coagents

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 605
Author(s):  
Alexander Piontek ◽  
Oscar Vernaez ◽  
Stephan Kabasci

Much effort has been made to enhance the toughness of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) to broaden its possible range of usage in technical applications. In this work, the compatibility of PLA with a partly bio-based ethylene-propylene-diene-rubber (EPDM) through reactive extrusion was investigated. The concentration of EPDM in the PLA matrix was in the range of up to 20%. The reactive extrusion was carried out in a conventional twin-screw extruder. Contact angle measurements were performed to calculate the interfacial tension and thus the compatibility between the phases. The thermal and mechanical properties as well as the phase morphology of the blends were characterized. A copolymer of poly (ethylene-co-methyl acrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (EMAGMA) was used as compatibilizer, which leads to a significant reduction in the particle size of the dispersed rubber phase when compared with the blends without this copolymer. The use of EMAGMA combined with soybean oil (SBO) and a radical initiator enhances the elongation at break of the compound. The results indicate that the reduction of the particle size of the dispersed phase obtained with the compatibilizer alone is not sufficient to improve the mechanical properties of the blend system. The induced radical reactions also influenced the mechanical properties of the blend significantly.

2012 ◽  
Vol 204-208 ◽  
pp. 4088-4092
Author(s):  
Ming Ming Zhang ◽  
Xiao Huan Liu ◽  
Chun Peng Wang ◽  
Li Wei Jin

The blend composite materials of bio-ethanol byproduct-Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were produced by a twin-screw extrusion process. Effects of bio-ethanol byproduct (BEB) contents and different compatibilizers on properties of composite materials were investigated. The research showed that with the increase of contents of bio-ethanol byproduct, the mechanical properties decreased. The mechanical properties of composites were improved by adding the compatibilizers, especially the polypropylene grafted maleic anhydride (PP-MAH). When the PP-MAH content was 2.5%, the mechanical properties of the composite materials were superior to others.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kittithorn Lertphirun ◽  
Kawee Srikulkit

Hydrophobic cellulose/SiO2 composites were prepared. Resultant hydrophobic cellulose/SiO2 composites were melt mixed with PLA using a twin-screw extruder to obtain 10 wt% masterbatch. Again, 10 wt% masterbatch was melt mixed with virgin PLA, resulting in PLA containing hydrophobic cellulose/SiO2 at various contents (1 wt%, 3 wt%, and 5 wt%) using a twin-screw extruder (barrel zone temperature: 150/160/170/180/190°C (die zone)). Injection-molded samples were prepared for mechanical properties evaluation. Results showed that poor mechanical properties found at low percent loadings were associated with a significant depolymerization of masterbatch composition due to twice thermal treatments. Note that 10 wt% masterbatch was subjected to injection molding straight away in a one-step process. Results showed that 10 wt% hydrophobic cellulose/SiO2/PLA composites exhibited mechanical properties equivalent to neat PLA. Importantly, the addition of hydrophobic cellulose/SiO2 at high percent loading could favor landfill degradation of PLA via water absorption ability of cellulose. It was expected that enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose resulted in the formation of lactic acid and silicic acid which consequently catalyzed the hydrolytic degradation (acid hydrolysis) of PLA. The hydrolytic degradation produced carboxylic acid end group which further accelerated the degradation rate.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria-Beatrice Coltelli ◽  
Patrizia Cinelli ◽  
Vito Gigante ◽  
Laura Aliotta ◽  
Pierfrancesco Morganti ◽  
...  

Chitin-nanofibrils are obtained in water suspension at low concentration, as nanoparticles normally are, to avoid their aggregation. The addition of the fibrils in molten PLA during extrusion is thus difficult and disadvantageous. In the present paper, the use of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is proposed to prepare a solid pre-composite by water evaporation. The pre-composite is then added to PLA in the extruder to obtain transparent nanocomposites. The amount of PEG and chitin nanofibrils was varied in the nanocomposites to compare the reinforcement due to nanofibrils and plasticization due to the presence of PEG, as well as for extrapolating, where possible, the properties of reinforcement due to chitin nanofibrils exclusively. Thermal and morphological properties of nanocomposites were also investigated. This study concluded that chitin nanofibrils, added as reinforcing filler up to 12% by weight, do not alter the properties of the PLA based material; hence, this additive can be used in bioplastic items mainly exploiting its intrinsic anti-microbial and skin regenerating properties.


RSC Advances ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 712-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunjing Chen ◽  
Lijing Han ◽  
Zonglin Li ◽  
Junjun Kong ◽  
Dandan Wu ◽  
...  

The mechanical strength of the pre-stretched blend was dramatically improved without too much sacrifice of the toughness.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document