This work evaluates for the first time the potential of an environmentally friendly plasticizer derived from epoxidized Brazil nut oil (EBNO) for biopolymers, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA). EBNO was used due to its high epoxy content, reaching an oxirane oxygen content of 4.22% after 8 h of epoxidation for a peroxide/oil ratio of 2:1. Melt extrusion was used to plasticize PLA formulations with different EBNO contents in the range of 0–10 phr. The effects of different amounts of EBNO in the PLA matrix were studied by performing mechanical, thermal, thermomechanical, and morphological characterizations. The tensile test demonstrated the feasibility of EBNO as a plasticizer for PLA by increasing the elongation at break by 70.9% for the plasticized PLA with 7.5 phr of EBNO content in comparison to the unplasticized PLA. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) of the fractured surfaces from the impact tests showed an increase in porosity and roughness in the areas with EBNO addition, which was characteristic of ductile failure. In addition, a disintegration test was performed, and no influence on the PLA biodegradation process was observed. The overall results demonstrate the ability of EBNO to compete with other commercial plasticizers in improving the ductile properties of PLA.

In this study, for the first time, Brazil nut seed oil was chemically modified with maleic anhydride to obtain maleinized Brazil nut seed oil (MBNO). The same process was developed to obtain maleinized hemp seed oil (MHO). The use of MBNO and MHO was studied as bio-based plasticizers by incorporating them with different contents ranging from 0 to 10 phr in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. By means of mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical characterization techniques, the properties of the different formulations were studied to evaluate the plasticizing effect of the MBNO and MHO. With the addition of both plasticizers, a significant increase in ductile properties was observed, reaching an increase in elongation at break of 643% with 7.5 phr MBNO and 771% with 10 phr MHO compared to neat PLA. In addition, it has been observed that the mechanical resistant properties do not decrease, since the oils enhance the crystallization of PLA by increasing the free volume between its chains and counteracting the effect. Finally, a disintegration test was carried out under thermophilic conditions at 58 °C for 27 days, demonstrating that the incorporation of MHO and MBNO does not significantly affect the biodegradability of neat PLA.

In this work novel thermosetting resins with high bio-based content have been developed derived from chia seed oil (CO). Epoxidized chia seed oil (ECO) was used as bio-based epoxy matrix with different mixtures of crosslinker agents, that is, methyl nadic anhydride (MNA) as petroleum-derived and maleinized chia seed oil (MCO) as bio-based crosslinker. The chemically modified oils from CO, that is, ECO and MCO, and MNA were analyzed by titration and FT-IR. Additional 1 H NMR analysis was performed to characterize MCO structure. Two different behaviors were observed using the mixtures of crosslinkers. On one hand, MNA increases the rigidity with bio-based content of 54.2%. On the other hand, the addition of MCO provides higher ductility with bio-based content up to 98%. The same trend was observed by DMTA analysis. The novel cured resins were successfully crosslinked as demonstrated by the mechanical properties, FT-IR analyses, and gel content. Based on the results, it is concluded that MCO presents higher reactivity than MNA, decreasing curing time with possible energy saving at industrial level. In general, the results showed that adding the appropriate amount of MCO, green thermosetting resins with the desired thermal and mechanical properties can be manufactured with high bio-based content. K E Y W O R D Sbio-based epoxy resin, chia seed oil, curing time, ductility, epoxidized chia seed oil, maleinized chia seed oil

The present works focuses on the development of a novel fully bio-based composite using a bio-based high-density polyethylene (Bio-HDPE) obtained from sugar cane as matrix and a by-product of extraction of chia seed oil (CO) as filler, with the objective of achieving a circular economy model. The research aims to revalorize an ever-increasing waste stream produced by the growing interest in vegetable oils. From the technical point of view, the chia seed flour (CSF) was chemically modified using a silane treatment. This treatment provides a better interfacial adhesion as was evidenced by the mechanical and thermal properties as well as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The effect of silane treatment on water uptake and disintegration rate was also studied. On the other hand, in a second stage, an optimization of the percentage of treated CSF used as filler was carried out by a complete series of mechanical, thermal, morphological, colour, water absorption and disintegration tests with the aim to evaluate the new composite developed using chia by-products. It is noteworthy as the disintegration rate increased with the addition of CSF filler, which leads to obtain a partially biodegradable wood plastic composite (WPC) and therefore, becoming more environmentally friendly.