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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Rheological Behavior Under Shear and Non-Isothermal Elongational Flow of Biodegradable Polymers for Foam Extrusion

Maria Chiara MistrettaMarco MorrealeF. P. La MantiaManuela Ceraulo

subject

chemistry.chemical_classificationEnvironmental EngineeringMaterials sciencePolymers and Plasticsfood and beveragesBiodegradable Rheological properties Elongational flow Foam extrusionPolymerBiodegradable polymerIsothermal processFood packagingchemistry.chemical_compoundchemistryRheologyMaterials ChemistryExtrusionPolystyreneComposite materialThermoforming

description

The production of many items, in particular for food packaging applications, is based on foam extrusion and thermoforming. These operations require the use of polymers which can grant some specific rheological properties, both under shear and elongational flow. In this work, the behavior of some biodegradable polymers [Mater-Bi® and poly(lactic acid)] under shear and non-isothermal elongational flow was investigated and compared with a traditional, non-biodegradable polymer, in order to assess their suitability for industrial-scale foam extrusion and thermoforming. The rheological characterization evidenced the differences between the different biodegradable polymers and the reference polystyrene (PS), as well as the effect of humidity on their main rheological properties. This can be of great interest in helping to find an optimum solution in replacing PS for the production of food packaging items.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2013-11-08Journal of Polymers and the Environment
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-013-0622-y