Background: For a faster conversion to a greener economy, new methodologies for a controlled processing of biobased and biodegradable polyester blends and composites with natural fibers should be developed. Currently only non-renewable processing aids are commercially available, hence studying new processes of reactive extrusion based on biobased molecules can be of industrial interest and also environmentally advantageous. Moreover, mechanical and thermal properties of the obtained materials should be correlated with their macromolecular structure. Objective: to explore additives for improving biopolymers and biocomposites processing, recycling and to control their mechanical properties. Methods: biopolyester based materials were reactively extruded in a Haake HAAKE Minilab II twinscrew mini-compounder and characterized in terms of their melt fluidity by a Melt Flow Tester M20. Before the test, granules of the blends obtained from the mini-extruder were dried in an oven set at 60°C for one day. Tensile tests were carried out on an INSTRON universal testing machine 5500R and equipped with a 100 N load cell. To perform the DSC characterization of selected formulations, a Q200- TA Instrument differential scanning calorimeter equipped with a RSC cooling system was used with nitrogen flow set at 50 mL/min, as purge gas. Results: commercial processing aids resulted more efficient that natural counterparts. However, interesting results were achieved, suggesting that the combination of modified natural oils with renewable polyacids can have a significant effect on the control of processability and potential mechanical recycling of polyester blends and composites. Conclusion: It is fundamental to support the biobased materials industry with researches that can enable it to use also biobased processing aids. Otherwise not biodegradable additives could be included in biodegradable materials, resulting in the formation of microplastics as a result of biodegradation in the product end of life.
New insights in bioplastics processing and recycling
Maria-Beatrice Coltelli
Primo
Conceptualization
;Alice BertoliniSecondo
Investigation
;Laura AliottaMembro del Collaboration Group
;Vito GiganteMembro del Collaboration Group
;Alessandro VannozziPenultimo
Data Curation
;Andrea LazzeriUltimo
Supervision
2021-01-01
Abstract
Background: For a faster conversion to a greener economy, new methodologies for a controlled processing of biobased and biodegradable polyester blends and composites with natural fibers should be developed. Currently only non-renewable processing aids are commercially available, hence studying new processes of reactive extrusion based on biobased molecules can be of industrial interest and also environmentally advantageous. Moreover, mechanical and thermal properties of the obtained materials should be correlated with their macromolecular structure. Objective: to explore additives for improving biopolymers and biocomposites processing, recycling and to control their mechanical properties. Methods: biopolyester based materials were reactively extruded in a Haake HAAKE Minilab II twinscrew mini-compounder and characterized in terms of their melt fluidity by a Melt Flow Tester M20. Before the test, granules of the blends obtained from the mini-extruder were dried in an oven set at 60°C for one day. Tensile tests were carried out on an INSTRON universal testing machine 5500R and equipped with a 100 N load cell. To perform the DSC characterization of selected formulations, a Q200- TA Instrument differential scanning calorimeter equipped with a RSC cooling system was used with nitrogen flow set at 50 mL/min, as purge gas. Results: commercial processing aids resulted more efficient that natural counterparts. However, interesting results were achieved, suggesting that the combination of modified natural oils with renewable polyacids can have a significant effect on the control of processability and potential mechanical recycling of polyester blends and composites. Conclusion: It is fundamental to support the biobased materials industry with researches that can enable it to use also biobased processing aids. Otherwise not biodegradable additives could be included in biodegradable materials, resulting in the formation of microplastics as a result of biodegradation in the product end of life.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
