The Life Cycle Assessment for Polylactic Acid (PLA) to Make It a Low-Carbon Material

Ghomi, Erfan Rezvani; Khosravi, Fatemeh; Ardahaei, Ali Saedi; Dai, Yunqian; Neisiany, Rasoul Esmaeely; Foroughi, Firoozeh; Wu, Min; Das, Oisik; Ramakrishna, Seeram

doi:10.3390/polym13111854

Cited by 108 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Magnetite (supplier IOLITEC, Heilbronn, Germany) was used as the superparamagnetic nanofiller. The following characteristics are mentioned on the technical sheet: iron (II, III) oxide >98%, average particle size in the range of 20-30 nm (determined using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)), specific surface area of 40-60 m 2 /g, and true density of 4.8-5.1 g/cm 3 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pathways to Green Perspectives: Production and Characterization of Polylactide (PLA) Nanocomposites Filled with Superparamagnetic Magnetite Nanoparticles

et al. 2021

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In the category of biopolymers, polylactide or polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most promising candidates considered for future developments, as it is not only biodegradable under industrial composting conditions, but it is produced from renewable natural resources. The modification of PLA through the addition of nanofillers is considered as a modern approach to improve its main characteristic features (mechanical, thermal, barrier, etc.) and to obtain specific end-use properties. Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) of low dimension (10–20 nm) such as magnetite (Fe3O4), exhibit strong magnetization in magnetic field, are biocompatible and show low toxicity, and can be considered in the production of polymer nanocomposites requiring superparamagnetic properties. Accordingly, PLA was mixed by melt-compounding with 4–16 wt.% magnetite NPs. Surface treatment of NPs with a reactive polymethylhydrogensiloxane (MHX) was investigated to render the nanofiller water repellent, less sensitive to moisture and to reduce the catalytic effects at high temperature of iron (from magnetite) on PLA macromolecular chains. The characterization of nanocomposites was focused on the differences of the rheology and morphology, modification, and improvements in the thermal properties using surface treated NPs, while the superparamagnetic behavior was confirmed by VSM (vibrating sample magnetometer) measurements. The PLA−magnetite nanocomposites had strong magnetization properties at low magnetic field (values close to 70% of Mmax at H = 0.2 T), while the maximum magnetic signal (Mmax) was mainly determined by the loading of the nanofiller, without any significant differences linked to the surface treatment of MNPs. These bionanocomposites showing superparamagnetic properties, close to zero magnetic remanence, and coercivity, can be further produced at a larger scale by melt-compounding and can be designed for special end-use applications, going from biomedical to technical areas.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, one of the main objectives is to replace "fossil carbon" with "renewable carbon". Moreover, the biodegradability of polymers at the end-use life cycle [3] is a desired condition required by end users in order to increase attractiveness and to diminish the environmental impact of these products.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathways to Green Perspectives: Production and Characterization of Polylactide (PLA) Nanocomposites Filled with Superparamagnetic Magnetite Nanoparticles

et al. 2021

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“…Rezvani Ghomi et al 241 determined that the conversion of PLA is the most energy-intensive process, as during conversion more than 50% of CO 2 (2.8 kg CO 2 per kg PLA) is released in its life cycle. However, the conversion of PLA can be optimized to further reduce the carbon footprint of PLA.…”

Section: Life Cycle Assessment Of Pla-based Productsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Durable Polylactic Acid (PLA)-Based Sustainable Engineered Blends and Biocomposites: Recent Developments, Challenges, and Opportunities

2021

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The paper comprehensively reviews durable polylactic acid (PLA)-based engineered blends and biocomposites supporting a low carbon economy. The traditional fossil fuel derived nonrenewable durable plastics that cannot be circumvented have spawned increased environmental concerns because of the continuous rise of their carbon footprint during processing and disposal. It is anticipated that the production of biodegradable and nonbiodegradable (durable) plastics from the year 2020 to 2025 will rise ∼47% and ∼21%, respectively. The carbon footprint can be reduced in durable (nonrenewable) plastics by decreasing or replacing the “fossil carbon” content with “renewable carbon” content. The replacement will enable us to attain a sustainable environment, a low carbon footprint, energy security, and effective resource management. Thus, PLA-based durable products need to be developed with an enhanced service life that strikes a balance between environment-friendliness and product performance for engineering high-performance applications. The recent progress for enhancing the durability of PLA-based products consisting of hybrid nonrenewable and renewable carbon has been attained by incorporating synthetic plastics, synthetic fibers (glass and carbon), natural fibers, and other biofillers (biocarbon). Further, the effects of additives such as initiators, nucleating agents, chain extenders, compatibilizers, impact modifiers, and toughening agents to prepare such blends and composites have been discussed. This Review further critically examines the advances centering on processability, heat resistance, flame retardancy, strength, and toughness. In addition to that, current and prospective applications such as automotive, electronic, medical, textile, and housing of PLA-based products are discussed. However, the challenges for tailoring durable PLA-based products that still need to be addressed, such as improved processability, striking stiffness–toughness balance, enhanced heat resistance, and improved interfacial adhesion between the polymer–polymer, polymer–filler, and hybrid polymer–filler in respective polymer blends, composites, and hybrid composites, are summarized and analyzed in this Review. Hence, the opportunities for improvement to overcome the challenges lie ahead.

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“…The high interest and progress in the production of biosourced polymers such as polylactide or poly(lactic acid) (PLA), is connected to a large number of factors, including the increase in requests for more environmentally sustainable products, the development of new biobased feedstocks and larger consideration of the techniques of recycling, increase in restrictions for the use of polymers with high "carbon footprint" of petrochemical origin, particularly in applications such as packaging, automotive, electrical and electronics industry, and so on [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances in Production of Ecofriendly Polylactide (PLA)–Calcium Sulfate (Anhydrite II) Composites: From the Evidence of Filler Stability to the Effects of PLA Matrix and Filling on Key Properties

et al. 2022

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The melt–mixing of polylactide (PLA) with micro- and/or nanofillers is a key method used to obtain specific end-use characteristics and improvements of properties. So-called “insoluble” CaSO4 (CS) β-anhydrite II (AII) is a mineral filler recently considered for the industry of polymer composites. First, the study proves that AII made from natural gypsum by a specifically thermal treatment is highly stable compared to other CS forms. Then, PLAs of different isomer purity and molecular weights (for injection molding (IM) and extrusion), have been used to produce “green” composites filled with 20–40 wt.% AII. The composites show good thermal and mechanical properties, accounting for the excellent filler dispersion and stability. The stiffness of composites increases with the amount of filler, whereas their tensile strength is found to be dependent on PLA molecular weights. Interestingly, the impact resistance is improved by adding 20% AII into all investigated PLAs. Due to advanced kinetics of crystallization ascribed to the effects of AII and use of a PLA grade of high L-lactic acid isomer purity, the composites show after IM an impressive degree of crystallinity (DC), i.e., as high as 50%, while their Vicat softening temperature is remarkably increased to 160 °C, which are thermal properties of great interest for applications requiring elevated rigidity and heat resistance.

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The Life Cycle Assessment for Polylactic Acid (PLA) to Make It a Low-Carbon Material

Cited by 108 publications

References 82 publications

Pathways to Green Perspectives: Production and Characterization of Polylactide (PLA) Nanocomposites Filled with Superparamagnetic Magnetite Nanoparticles

Pathways to Green Perspectives: Production and Characterization of Polylactide (PLA) Nanocomposites Filled with Superparamagnetic Magnetite Nanoparticles

Durable Polylactic Acid (PLA)-Based Sustainable Engineered Blends and Biocomposites: Recent Developments, Challenges, and Opportunities

Recent Advances in Production of Ecofriendly Polylactide (PLA)–Calcium Sulfate (Anhydrite II) Composites: From the Evidence of Filler Stability to the Effects of PLA Matrix and Filling on Key Properties

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