Compatibilization in bio-based and biodegradable polymer blends
TL;DR: In this paper, the distinction between degradation and biodegradation of biopolymers is discussed and the importance of their importance for practice is also discussed, as well as several examples of various approaches and their outcome.
About: This article is published in European Polymer Journal.The article was published on 2013-06-01 and is currently open access. It has received 447 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Compatibilization.
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01 Nov 2018
TL;DR: In this article, a comprehensive review about the properties of natural fibres used as composite materials reinforcement is presented, aiming to map where each type of fibre is positioned in several properties.
Abstract: There is significant work published in recent years about natural fibres polymeric composites. Most of the studies are about the characterization of natural fibres and their comparison with conventional composites regarding mechanical behaviour and application performance. There are dozens of types of natural fibres with different properties influencing their use, or not, in specific industrial applications. The natural origin of these materials causes, in general, a wide range of variations in properties depending mainly on the harvesting location and conditions, making it difficult to select the appropriate fibre for a specific application. In this paper, a comprehensive review about the properties of natural fibres used as composite materials reinforcement is presented, aiming to map where each type of fibre is positioned in several properties. Recent published work on emergent types of fibres is also reviewed. A bibliometric study regarding applications of natural fibres composites is presented. A prospective analysis about the future trends of natural fibres applications and the required developments to broaden their applications is also presented and discussed.
381 citations
TL;DR: The opportunities for PLA blends in the biomedical arena are discussed, including the overview of blending and postblend processing techniques and the applications of PLA blends currently in use and under development.
344 citations
Cites background from "Compatibilization in bio-based and ..."
...Imre and Pukanszky [54] present a detailed review about the nature and use of compatibilization in the blends of biodegradable polymers....
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01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: The performance of biodegradable polymers is discussed in this article, with a particular focus on the blends of starch and other polymers, and the potential applications for bioactive coatings on antimicrobial packaging materials are also addressed.
Abstract: Recently, the demands for biodegradable and renewable materials for packaging applications have increased tremendously. This rise in demand is connected to the growing environmental concerns over the extensive use of synthetic and non-biodegradable polymeric packaging, polyethylene in particular. The performance of biodegradable polymers is discussed in this review, with a particular focus on the blends of starch and other polymers. Furthermore, in food packaging industry, microbial activities are of great concern. Therefore, incorporation of antimicrobial agents or polymers to produce barrier-enhanced or active packaging materials provides an attractive option for protecting food from microorganism development and spread. Additionally, the barrier, mechanical and other properties of biodegradable polymers are discussed. Lastly, the existing and potential applications for bioactive coatings on antimicrobial packaging materials are also addressed.
281 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a terpene d -limonene (LIM) was used to increase PLA crystallinity and to obtain flexible films intended for food packaging applications, and structural and surfaces properties were evaluated.
279 citations
Additional excerpts
...It is also a brittle polymer, as its enzymatic polymerization leads to the formation of macromolecules with highly ordered stereochemical structure, as a result large crystallinity [12]....
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...Blending PLA with another bio-based and/or biodegradable material allow to adjust some properties in wide range while legislation also favors completely compostable materials with minimal carbon-footprint [12], such as are those provided by the physical blend processing technology....
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TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that lignin forms blends, and these are classified and discussed according to the interactions developing in them, since competitive interactions determine the structure and properties of the blends.
256 citations
References
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TL;DR: In this paper, a statistical treatment of high polymer solutions has been carried out on the basis of an idealized model, originally proposed by Meyer, which is analogous to the one ordinarily assumed in the derivation of the ''ideal'' solution laws for molecules of equal size.
Abstract: A statistical mechanical treatment of high polymer solutions has been carried out on the basis of an idealized model, originally proposed by Meyer, which is analogous to the one ordinarily assumed in the derivation of the ``ideal'' solution laws for molecules of equal size. There is obtained for the entropy of mixing of n solvent and N linear polymer molecules (originally disoriented), ΔS=−k[(n/β) ln v1+N ln v2] where v1 and v2 are volume fractions and β is the number of solvent molecules replaceable by a freely orienting segment of the polymer chain. This expression is similar in form to the classical expression for equal‐sized molecules, mole fractions having been replaced by volume fractions. When the disparity between the sizes of the two components is great, this expression gives entropies differing widely from the classical values, which accounts for the large deviations of high polymer solutions from ``ideal'' behavior. The entropy of disorientation of a perfectly arranged linear polymer is found t...
3,513 citations
TL;DR: Challenges in scaffold fabrication for tissue engineering such as biomolecules incorporation, surface functionalization and 3D scaffold characterization are discussed, giving possible solution strategies.
3,505 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a literature review is presented regarding the synthesis, and physicochemical, chemical, and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)(PLA), with an orthorhombic unit cell.
Abstract: A literature review is presented regarding the synthesis, and physicochemical, chemical, and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)(PLA). Poly(lactic acid) exists as a polymeric helix, with an orthorhombic unit cell. The tensile properties of PLA can vary widely, depending on whether or not it is annealed or oriented or what its degree of crystallinity is. Also discussed are the effects of processing on PLA. Crystallization and crystallization kinetics of PLA are also investigated. Solution and melt rheology of PLA is also discussed. Four different power-law equations and 14 different Mark–Houwink equations are presented for PLA. Nuclear magnetic resonance, UV–VIS, and FTIR spectroscopy of PLA are briefly discussed. Finally, research conducted on starch–PLA composites is introduced.
3,242 citations
TL;DR: The aim of this paper is to review the production techniques for PLAs, summarize the main properties of PLA and to delineate the main advantages and disadvantages of PLA as a polymeric packaging material.
Abstract: Polylactide polymers have gained enormous attention as a replacement for conventional synthetic packaging materials in the last decade. By being truly biodegradable, derived from renewable resources and by providing consumers with extra end-use benefits such as avoiding paying the "green tax" in Germany or meeting environmental regulations in Japan, polylactides (PLAs) are a growing alternative as a packaging material for demanding markets. The aim of this paper is to review the production techniques for PLAs, summarize the main properties of PLA and to delineate the main advantages and disadvantages of PLA as a polymeric packaging material. PLA films have better ultraviolet light barrier properties than low density polyethylene (LDPE), but they are slightly worse than those of cellophane, polystyrene (PS) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). PLA films have mechanical properties comparable to those of PET and better than those of PS. PLA also has lower melting and glass transition temperatures than PET and PS. The glass transition temperature of PLA changes with time. Humidity between 10 and 95% and storage temperatures of 5 to 40 degrees C do not have an effect on the transition temperature of PLA, which can be explained by its low water sorption values (i.e. <100 ppm at Aw = 1). PLA seals well at temperatures below the melting temperature but an appreciable shrinking of the films has been noted when the material is sealed near its melting temperature. Solubility parameter predictions indicate that PLA will interact with nitrogen compounds, anhydrides and some alcohols and that it will not interact with aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, sulfur compounds or water. The CO2, O2 and water permeability coefficients of PLA are lower than those of PS and higher than those of PET. Its barrier to ethyl acetate and D-limonene is comparable to PET. The amount of lactic acid and its derivatives that migrate to food simulant solutions from PLA is much lower than any of the current average dietary lactic acid intake values allowed by several governmental agencies. Thus, PLA is safe for use in fabricating articles for contact with food.
2,803 citations