Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) Based Tear Resistant and Biodegradable Flexible Films by Blown Film Extrusion

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was melt mixed in a laboratory extruder with poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) in the presence of polypropylene glycol di glycidyl ether (EJ400) that acted as both plasticizer and compatibilizer. The process was then scaled up in a semi-industrial extruder preparing pellets having different content of a nucleating agent (LAK). All of the formulations could be processed by blowing extrusion and the obtained films showed mechanical properties dependent on the LAK content. In particular the tearing strength showed a maximum like trend in the investigated composition range. The films prepared with both kinds of blends showed a tensile strength in the range 12–24 MPa, an elongation at break in the range 150–260% and a significant crystallinity.

Cosmetic Packaging to Save the Environment: Future Perspectives

“…Thus, the use of proper nucleating agents, allowing increasing the crystallization rate of PLA during the rapid cooling is particularly interesting on a technological point of view. Nucleated PLA results stabilized and its optical and mechanical properties are not modified as a consequence of heating in the temperature range of its glass transition [24][25][26]. PLA has four optical enantiomers: PLLA, PDLA, PDLLA (racemic), and meso-PLA.…”

“…One of the efficient methods to improve the crystallization behavior of PLLA is adding nucleating agents, which have several advantages: providing more nucleation sites, shortening the induction time for crystallization, and enhancing the tensile strength of polymer. Inorganic particles (like nano-CaCO 3 , nano-BaSO 4 and nano-Ti0 2 ) are often used to improve the mechanical properties and lower the cost of polymer materials [23], but they can also be added in small amounts as nucleating agents to improve the crystallization behavior of polymers [24][25][26].…”

Biodegradable poly(lactic acid)/cellulose‐based superabsorbent hydrogel composite material as water and fertilizer reservoir in agricultural applications

“…In the second series of samples, the addition of biodegradable PLA was considered (PLA/H/K samples), in order to improve the stability of the system and permit its large‐scale use in agriculture applications, as PLA is plentiful and inexpensive . Indeed, the release experiment carried out on the PLA/H/K samples revealed that the presence of PLA considerably reduced the fraction of the released salt and increased the release time.…”

Intensification of cooling of tubular blown polymeric packing films with the flowing-down liquid film

“…Results of research of process of production of a biodegradable tubular blown film, and also physical-mechanical properties of this film are considered in work [18]. Production of the film in this work is also considered by the method "from below up" with cooling of the film on air.…”