Biosourced Multiphase Systems Based on Poly(Lactic Acid) and Polyamide 11 from Blends to Multi-Micro/Nanolayer Polymers Fabricated with Forced-Assembly Multilayer Coextrusion.

The objective of the present study was to investigate multiphase systems based on polylactic acid (PLA) and polyamide 11 (PA11) from blends to multilayers. Firstly, PLA/PA11 blends compatibilized with a multifunctionalized epoxide, Joncryl, were obtained through reactive extrusion, and the thermal, morphological, rheological, and mechanical behaviors of these materials were investigated. The role of Joncryl as a compatibilizer for the PLA/PA11 system was demonstrated by the significant decrease in particle size and interfacial tension as well as by the tensile properties exhibiting a ductile behavior.

Characterization and quality assessment of recycled post-consumption poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET).

In the present study, the recycled post-consumption polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flakes were investigated as possible raw materials for the production of food packaging. After heating at 220 °C for 1 h, a steaming stage was conducted as a control test to assess the quality of the product. Different samples were characterized by H-NMR, FT-IR, DSC/TGA analysis, viscosity index (VI), and trace metals analysis.

Biodegradable packaging materials conception based on starch and polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with cellulose.

The plastic materials used for packaging are increasing leading to a considerable amount of undegradable solid wastes. This work deals with the reduction of conventional plastics waste and the natural resources preservation by using cellulosic polymers from renewable resources (alfa and luffa). Plasticized starch films syntheses were achieved at a laboratory scale.

Rheological, Morphological and Mechanical Studies of Sustainably Sourced Polymer Blends Based on Poly(Lactic Acid) and Polyamide 11.

The objective of this study was to gain a deep understanding of composition and compatibilization effects on the properties of entirely sustainably sourced polymer blends based on polylactide (PLA) and polyamide 11 (PA11). Generally, PLA cannot challenge regular commodity polymers due to its weak thermo-mechanical properties and its poor elongation properties. With this work, however, we present a promising route to overcome these drawbacks in order to enhance the processability of PLA: blending the polymer with various compositions of other ductile biopolymers such as PA11, as well as mixing PLA/PA11 blends with various amounts of a chain extender, Joncryl ADR-4368, containing reactive epoxy functions, in a laboratory-scale twin-screw extruder.