Sustainable Micro and Nano Additives for Controlling the Migration of a Biobased Plasticizer from PLA-Based Flexible Films

Plasticized poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blend-based films containing chitin nanofibrils (CN) and calcium carbonate were prepared by extrusion and compression molding. On the basis of previous studies, processability was controlled by the use of a few percent of a commercial acrylic copolymer acting as melt strength enhancer and calcium carbonate. Furthermore, acetyl n-tributyl citrate (ATBC), a renewable and biodegradable plasticizer (notoriously adopted in PLA based products) was added to facilitate not only the processability but also to increase the mechanical flexibility and toughness. However, during the storage of these films, a partial loss of plasticizer was observed. The consequence of this is not only correlated to the change of the mechanical properties making the films more rigid but also to the crystallization and development of surficial oiliness. The effect of the addition of calcium carbonate (nanometric and micrometric) and natural nanofibers (chitin nanofibrils) to reduce/control the plasticizer migration was investigated. The prediction of plasticizer migration from the films’ core to the external surface was carried out and the diffusion coefficients, obtained by regression of the experimental migration data plotted as the square root of time, were evaluated for different blends compositions. The results of the diffusion coefficients, obtained thanks to migration tests, showed that the CN can slow the plasticizer migration. However, the best result was achieved with micrometric calcium carbonate while nanometric calcium carbonate results were less effective due to favoring of some bio polyesters’ chain scission. The use of both micrometric calcium carbonate and CN was counterproductive due to the agglomeration phenomena that were observed.

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Properties and Skin Compatibility of Films Based on Poly(Lactic Acid) (PLA) Bionanocomposites Incorporating Chitin Nanofibrils (CN)

Journal of Functional Biomaterials ◽

10.3390/jfb11020021 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 21 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Maria-Beatrice Coltelli ◽

Laura Aliotta ◽

Alessandro Vannozzi ◽

Pierfrancesco Morganti ◽

Luca Panariello ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Calcium Carbonate ◽

Chain Scission ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Butylene Succinate ◽

Agar Diffusion Test ◽

Wide Range ◽

Poly Ethylene ◽

Skin Compatibility ◽

Die Extrusion

Nanobiocomposites suitable for preparing skin compatible films by flat die extrusion were prepared by using plasticized poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), and Chitin nanofibrils as functional filler. Chitin nanofibrils (CNs) were dispersed in the blends thanks to the preparation of pre-nanocomposites containing poly(ethylene glycol). Thanks to the use of a melt strength enhancer (Plastistrength) and calcium carbonate, the processability and thermal properties of bionanocomposites films containing CNs could be tuned in a wide range. Moreover, the resultant films were flexible and highly resistant. The addition of CNs in the presence of starch proved not advantageous because of an extensive chain scission resulting in low values of melt viscosity. The films containing CNs or CNs and calcium carbonate resulted biocompatible and enabled the production of cells defensins, acting as indirect anti-microbial. Nevertheless, tests made with Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter spp. (Gram positive and negative respectively) by the qualitative agar diffusion test did not show any direct anti-microbial activity of the films. The results are explained considering the morphology of the film and the different mechanisms of direct and indirect anti-microbial action generated by the nanobiocomposite based films.

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Physical and Mechanical Properties of Poly(Butylene Succinate) and Poly(Lactic Acid) under Landfill Conditions

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.856.245 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 856 ◽

pp. 245-252

Author(s):

Narumon Seeponkai ◽

Krisana Poolsawat

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Lactic Acid ◽

Physical And Mechanical Properties ◽

Degradation Process ◽

Chain Scission ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Ester Bond ◽

Butylene Succinate ◽

Erosion Mechanism ◽

Scanning Electron

In this study, the disintegration of poly(butylene succinate)(PBS) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) under landfill conditions was investigated. Both polymers were melted, injected into a dumbbell-shape, and buried under the soil for 20 weeks. The morphology of the polymer from the scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that, after 6 weeks of the burial, the PBS polymer produced many micro-voids in the bulk of polymer. The amount of the voids increased with time. While the morphology of PLA showed a few voids and some cracks during the degradation process. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the PLA were decreased after 2 weeks following with PBS after 4 weeks of the burial times. The weight loss and the water uptake of PBS and PLA were slightly increased. From the result, it was found that the degradation of PBS and PLA proceeds via random chain scission of the ester bond through bulk erosion mechanism. The degradation of PLA degraded faster than the PBS due to the low crystallinity in the polymer chain. This result can be applied to the design waste management of biodegradable polymer products.

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Wine By-Products as Raw Materials for the Production of Biopolymers and of Natural Reinforcing Fillers: A Critical Review

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13030381 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 381

Author(s):

Alessandro Nanni ◽

Mariafederica Parisi ◽

Martino Colonna

Keyword(s):

Critical Review ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Green Revolution ◽

Building Blocks ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Butylene Succinate ◽

Reinforcing Fillers ◽

Plastic Industry ◽

Review Reports ◽

By Products

The plastic industry is today facing a green revolution; however, biopolymers, produced in low amounts, expensive, and food competitive do not represent an efficient solution. The use of wine waste as second-generation feedstock for the synthesis of polymer building blocks or as reinforcing fillers could represent a solution to reduce biopolymer costs and to boost the biopolymer presence in the market. The present critical review reports the state of the art of the scientific studies concerning the use of wine by-products as substrate for the synthesis of polymer building blocks and as reinforcing fillers for polymers. The review has been mainly focused on the most used bio-based and biodegradable polymers present in the market (i.e., poly(lactic acid), poly(butylene succinate), and poly(hydroxyalkanoates)). The results present in the literature have been reviewed and elaborated in order to suggest new possibilities of development based on the chemical and physical characteristics of wine by-products.

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Poly(Lactic Acid)–Poly(Butylene Succinate)–Sugar Beet Pulp Composites; Part I: Mechanics of Composites with Fine and Coarse Sugar Beet Pulp Particles

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13152531 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 2531

Author(s):

Rodion Kopitzky

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Lactic Acid ◽

Sugar Beet ◽

Cell Structure ◽

Sugar Beet Pulp ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Butylene Succinate ◽

Fracture Patterns ◽

Beet Pulp ◽

The Impact

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.

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Preparation of poly(lactic acid) composites containing calcium carbonate (vaterite)

Biomaterials ◽

10.1016/s0142-9612(03)00190-x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 24 (19) ◽

pp. 3247-3253 ◽

Cited By ~ 138

Author(s):

Toshihiro Kasuga ◽

Hirotaka Maeda ◽

Katsuhito Kato ◽

Masayuki Nogami ◽

Ken-ichiro Hata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Calcium Carbonate ◽

Poly Lactic Acid

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The effect of poly(ethylene glycol) as plasticizer in blends of poly(lactic acid) and poly(butylene succinate)

Journal of Applied Polymer Science ◽

10.1002/app.43044 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 133 (8) ◽

pp. n/a-n/a ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Weraporn Pivsa-Art ◽

Kazunori Fujii ◽

Keiichiro Nomura ◽

Yuji Aso ◽

Hitomi Ohara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Ethylene Glycol ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Poly Ethylene Glycol ◽

Butylene Succinate ◽

Poly Ethylene

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Thermal behavior, dynamic mechanical properties and rheological properties of poly(butylene succinate) composites filled with nanometer calcium carbonate

Polymer Testing ◽

10.1016/j.polymertesting.2015.01.015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. 160-167 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Rong-yuan Chen ◽

Wei Zou ◽

Hai-chen Zhang ◽

Gui-zhen Zhang ◽

Zhi-tao Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Calcium Carbonate ◽

Thermal Behavior ◽

Rheological Properties ◽

Dynamic Mechanical Properties ◽

Butylene Succinate ◽

Dynamic Mechanical

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Biodegradation and Anti-Bacterial Properties of PLA and Wood/PLA Composites Incorporated with Zeomic Anti-Bacterial Agent

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.747.111 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 747 ◽

pp. 111-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Chana Prapruddivongs ◽

Narongrit Sombatsompop

Keyword(s):

Wood Flour ◽

Viable Cell ◽

Chain Scission ◽

Plate Count ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Aerobic Degradation ◽

Carbon Conversion ◽

Plate Count Agar ◽

Bacterial Agent ◽

Biodegradation Test

Anti-bacterial and biodegradation activities of Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and wood flour/PLA composites (WPLA) were investigated for the effect of anti-bacterial agent addition. Silver substituted Zeolite (commercially designated as Zeomic) was used as anti-bacterial agent in this study. Anti-bacterial activities were investigated through dynamic shake flask method accompanying with plate count agar (PCA) technique, against Staphylococcus aureus as testing bacteria. The results of anti-bacterial activity were reported by viable cell count. For biodegradation test, the degree and rate of biodegradations were evaluated from percentage of carbon conversion, the test being carried out under laboratory controlled-aerobic degradation environment at a temperature of 58±2°C. The results found that addition of Zeomic did not perform anti-bacterial activities for both the neat PLA and WPLA due to non-diffusivity of silver in Zeomic. For biodegradation test, both PLA and WPLA samples during incubation times of 21-60 days had shown considerable biodegradation rates as a result of chain scission by hydrolysis reaction and subsequent enzymatic-biodegradation by microorganism of PLA molecules. Regarding the effect of wood and Zeomic addition, it was found that introducing wood and Zeomic in PLA matrix tended to markedly increase the degree and rate of biodegradation of PLA and WPLA materials, whereby the PLA having 10%wt of wood with 1.5%wt of Zeomic had the most satisfactory biodegradation level and rate as a consequence of accelerated hydrolysis degradation from moisture in wood and Zeomic.

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