6533b853fe1ef96bd12acb59

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Effect of small amounts of poly(lactic acid) on the recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) bottles

Marco MorrealeLuigi BottaF. P. La MantiaRoberto Scaffaro

subject

chemistry.chemical_classificationThermogravimetric analysisMaterials scienceEthylenePolymers and PlasticsRecycling PLA Rheological properties Mechanical propertiesBeverage industryPolymerCondensed Matter PhysicsBiodegradable polymerLactic acidchemistry.chemical_compoundSettore ING-IND/22 - Scienza E Tecnologia Dei MaterialiRheologychemistryChemical engineeringMechanics of MaterialsMaterials ChemistryThermal stabilityComposite material

description

Abstract Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is one of the most used commodity polymers, especially for food and beverage applications, and its recycling is of great importance because of the possible use in the textile and construction industries. On the other hand, the interest in biodegradable polymers has led, in recent years, to the use of materials such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) also in the food and beverage industry. The presence of small amounts of PLA in the PET waste can significantly affect the post-consumer recycling process. In this work, the effect of the presence of small amounts of PLA on the recycling of PET bottles is investigated by rheological, mechanical, morphological and thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicate that this presence can significantly affect the rheological properties under non-isothermal elongational flow, while the mechanical properties were considerably affected only in some circumstances and the thermal stability was not significantly modified.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2011-11-01Polymer Degradation and Stability
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2011.10.017