Search results for "plastics"

Shear Thinning: Determination of Zero‐Shear Viscosities from Measurements in the Non‐Newtonian Region

2020

Mechanical recycling of polylactide, upgrading trends and combination of valorization techniques

2016

[EN] The upcoming introduction of polylactides in the fractions of polymer waste encourages technologists to ascertain its valorization at the best quality conditions. Mechanical recycling of PLA represents one of the most cost-effective methodologies, but the recycled materials are usually directed to downgraded applications, due to the inherent thermomechanical degradation affecting its mechanical, thermal and rheological performance. In this review, the current state of mechanical recycling of PLA is reported, with special emphasis on a multi-scale comparison among different studies. Additionally, the applications of physical and chemical upgrading strategies, as well as the chances to b…

Relevant factors for the eco-design of polylactide/sisal biocomposites to control biodegradation in soil in an end-of-life scenario

2017

[EN] The eco-design considers the factors to prepare biocomposites under an end-of-life scenario. PLA/sisal biocomposites were obtained from amorphous polylactide and sisal loadings of 10, 20 and 30 wt% with and without coupling agent, and subjected to biodegradation in soil according to standard IS0846. Mass loss, differential scanning calorimetry and size-exclusion chromatography were used for monitoring biodegradation. A statistical factorial analysis based on the molar mass M-n, and crystallinity degree X-c pointed out the relevance and interaction of amount of fibre and use of coupling agent with the time of burial in soil., During the preparation of biocomposites, chain scission provo…

Polylactide-based self-reinforced composites biodegradation: Individual and combined influence of temperature, water and compost

2018

[EN] Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRCs) are proposed as a suitable alternative for composite development, based in the combination of a polymeric matrix and a polymeric fibre made of the same polymer. SRCs based in polylactide (PLA) could be fully biodegradable and their valorisation routes could presumably be assimilated to those for neat PEA. In this sense, the aim of this study was to develop new self-reinforced PLA-based composites and ascertain their biodegradability. For this purpose, PLA-based SRCs were obtained through a thermo-compression procedure and their biodegradability corroborated under standard conditions (ISO 20200). Moreover, a deep study of the effect of the diffe…

Experiments and CFD Predictions of Solid Particle Distribution in a Vessel Agitated with Four Pitched Blade Turbines

2001

The distribution of solid particles in a high aspect-ratio baffled tank agitated with four 45° pitched blade turbines (PBT) was investigated using both experimental measurements and CFD simulations. Dilute suspensions of glass beads in water and moderately viscous liquids were considered. The measurement of axial particle concentration profiles was conducted by means of a light attenuation technique. Fully predictive simulations of solid-liquid suspensions were performed using a Sliding-Grid approach coupled with the Eulerian-Eulerian Two Fluid Model and the ‘homogeneous’ two-phase k-ɛ turbulence model. The simulated particle axial concentration profiles were compared with the experimental …

Scale effect of the tensile strength of flax-fabric-reinforced polymer composites

2011

The development of UD natural fiber composites, considered for application as structural materials, necessitates evaluation of the scale effect of their strength. Alignment of the fibers in flax bast fiber composites can be achieved by employing textile reinforcement, such as yarns and fabrics. Cutting specimens for mechanical tests out of such textile-reinforced composite plates results in a complex non-uniform reinforcement structure at their edges, which may affect the strength of specimens. Scale effect of the tensile strength in the fiber direction of flax-fabric-reinforced composites is studied in the current work. A model accounting for both volume and edge effect of the specimens o…

Grafting of Maleic Anhydride onto Isotactic Polypropylene in the Presence of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide as a Solvent and Swelling Fluid

2004

Grafting of maleic anhydride (MA) onto isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was carried out by thermal decomposition of dicumylperoxide (DCP) using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a solvent and swelling fluid. Provided that the initial concentration of anhydride dissolved in scCO2 is higher than 1% w/w, the grafting occurs without significant molecular weight modification of the polymer, and with a proper selection of the operative conditions, a grafting level higher than 0.5% w/w with respect to the polymer mass was obtained. The amount of grafted MA was determined by FT-IR spectroscopy and polymer degradation was monitored by dynamic mechanical tests in the melt state. The effect of MA a…

Miscibility of Blends of Biodegradable Polymers and Copolymers with Different Plasticizers

2008

Miscibility between components of different plasticizer(A)/solvent(B)/biodegradable polymer(C) ternary systems with H-bonding has been compared. Systems were formed by two H-donor phenolic plasticizers, 4-nonylphenol (NP) and 4:4'-dihydroxydiphenylmethane (BPF); an H-acceptor solvent, epichlorohydrin (ECH); and H-acceptor poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) or poly[(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyvalerate)] (PHBHV) copolymers. Blend miscibility is the result of the balance of three competitive H-bondings: plasticizer self-association (AA), plasticizer-solvent (AB) and plasticizer-polymer (AC) interassociations. The strength and extent of such specific interactions have been experimentally monito…

Ionic Liquid Composite Polybenzimidazol Membranes for High Temperature PEMFC Applications

2019

A series of proton exchange membranes based on polybenzimidazole (PBI) were prepared using the low cost ionic liquids (ILs) derived from 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (BMIM) bearing different anions as conductive fillers in the polymeric matrix with the aim of enhancing the proton conductivity of PBI membranes. The composite membranes prepared by casting method (containing 5 wt. % of IL) exhibited good thermal, dimensional, mechanical, and oxidative stability for fuel cell applications. The effects of anion, temperature on the proton conductivity of phosphoric acid-doped membranes were systematically investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The PBI composite membranes containin…

Protection of high-density polyethylene-silicon composites from ultraviolet-visible photodegradation

2017

[EN] The extent of the ultraviolet¿visible (UV¿vis) photoirradiation effect on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and HDPE¿sili-con (Si) composites is reported in terms of the addition of Si microparticles at contents of 0.1, 1, and 5 wt %. A standard acceleratedUV-vis exposure was applied over 2750 h, corresponding to 22 months in Florida. Thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry,and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used as reliable techniques for monitoring the quality of the HDPE-Si composites. Theincreasing addition of Si microparticles delayed the photodegradation of the HDPE¿Si composites. Because of their strong light-scattering effects, Si microparticles blocked…