Foaming of 3D-Printed PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> Composites by Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> Process for Sustainable Food Contact Materials
In the last decade, among the emerging technologies in the area of bioplastics, additive manufacturing (AM), commonly referred to as 3D printing, stands out. This technology has gained great interest in the development of new products, mainly due to its capability to easily produce customized and lo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/6/798 |
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| author | Simón Faba Ángel Agüero Marina P. Arrieta Sara Martínez Julio Romero Alejandra Torres María José Galotto |
| author_facet | Simón Faba Ángel Agüero Marina P. Arrieta Sara Martínez Julio Romero Alejandra Torres María José Galotto |
| author_sort | Simón Faba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the last decade, among the emerging technologies in the area of bioplastics, additive manufacturing (AM), commonly referred to as 3D printing, stands out. This technology has gained great interest in the development of new products, mainly due to its capability to easily produce customized and low-cost plastic products. This work aims to evaluate the effect of supercritical foaming of 3D-printed parts based on a commercial PLA matrix loaded with calcium carbonate, for single-use sustainable food contact materials. 3D-printed PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> parts were obtained by 3D printing with a 20% and 80% infill, and two infill patterns, rectilinear and triangular, were set for each of the infill percentages selected. Supercritical fluid foaming of PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> composite printed parts was performed using a pressure of 25 MPa, a temperature of 130 °C for 23 min, with a fast depressurization rate (1 s). Closed-cell foams were achieved and the presence of CaCO<sub>3</sub> did not influence the surface of the foams or the cell walls, and no agglomerations were observed. Foam samples with 80% infill showed subtle temperature fluctuations, and thermogravimetric analysis showed that samples were thermally stable up to ~300 °C, while the maximum degradation temperature was around 365 °C. Finally, tensile test analysis showed that for lower infill contents, the foams showed lower mechanical performance, while the 80% infill and triangular pattern produced foams with good mechanical performance. These results emphasize the interest in using the supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> process to easily produce foams from 3D-printed parts. These materials represent a sustainable alternative for replacing non-biodegradable materials such as Expanded Polystyrene, and they are a promising option for use in many industrial applications, such as contact materials. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:52:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-04e8a320095e4edbba43ee4106029875 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:52:21Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-04e8a320095e4edbba43ee41060298752024-03-27T14:01:22ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602024-03-0116679810.3390/polym16060798Foaming of 3D-Printed PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> Composites by Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> Process for Sustainable Food Contact MaterialsSimón Faba0Ángel Agüero1Marina P. Arrieta2Sara Martínez3Julio Romero4Alejandra Torres5María José Galotto6Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN-CHILE), Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Technology, Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, ChileDepartamento de Ingeniería Química Industrial y del Medio Ambiente, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSII-UPM), Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Ingeniería Química Industrial y del Medio Ambiente, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSII-UPM), Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, SpainPackaging Innovation Center (LABEN-CHILE), Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Technology, Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, ChileLaboratory of Membrane Separation Processes (LabProSeM), Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioprocesses, Engineering Faculty, University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, ChilePackaging Innovation Center (LABEN-CHILE), Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Technology, Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, ChilePackaging Innovation Center (LABEN-CHILE), Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Technology, Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, ChileIn the last decade, among the emerging technologies in the area of bioplastics, additive manufacturing (AM), commonly referred to as 3D printing, stands out. This technology has gained great interest in the development of new products, mainly due to its capability to easily produce customized and low-cost plastic products. This work aims to evaluate the effect of supercritical foaming of 3D-printed parts based on a commercial PLA matrix loaded with calcium carbonate, for single-use sustainable food contact materials. 3D-printed PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> parts were obtained by 3D printing with a 20% and 80% infill, and two infill patterns, rectilinear and triangular, were set for each of the infill percentages selected. Supercritical fluid foaming of PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> composite printed parts was performed using a pressure of 25 MPa, a temperature of 130 °C for 23 min, with a fast depressurization rate (1 s). Closed-cell foams were achieved and the presence of CaCO<sub>3</sub> did not influence the surface of the foams or the cell walls, and no agglomerations were observed. Foam samples with 80% infill showed subtle temperature fluctuations, and thermogravimetric analysis showed that samples were thermally stable up to ~300 °C, while the maximum degradation temperature was around 365 °C. Finally, tensile test analysis showed that for lower infill contents, the foams showed lower mechanical performance, while the 80% infill and triangular pattern produced foams with good mechanical performance. These results emphasize the interest in using the supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> process to easily produce foams from 3D-printed parts. These materials represent a sustainable alternative for replacing non-biodegradable materials such as Expanded Polystyrene, and they are a promising option for use in many industrial applications, such as contact materials.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/6/798poly(lactic acid)3D printingfoamssupercritical CO<sub>2</sub> |
| spellingShingle | Simón Faba Ángel Agüero Marina P. Arrieta Sara Martínez Julio Romero Alejandra Torres María José Galotto Foaming of 3D-Printed PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> Composites by Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> Process for Sustainable Food Contact Materials Polymers poly(lactic acid) 3D printing foams supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> |
| title | Foaming of 3D-Printed PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> Composites by Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> Process for Sustainable Food Contact Materials |
| title_full | Foaming of 3D-Printed PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> Composites by Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> Process for Sustainable Food Contact Materials |
| title_fullStr | Foaming of 3D-Printed PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> Composites by Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> Process for Sustainable Food Contact Materials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Foaming of 3D-Printed PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> Composites by Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> Process for Sustainable Food Contact Materials |
| title_short | Foaming of 3D-Printed PLA/CaCO<sub>3</sub> Composites by Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> Process for Sustainable Food Contact Materials |
| title_sort | foaming of 3d printed pla caco sub 3 sub composites by supercritical co sub 2 sub process for sustainable food contact materials |
| topic | poly(lactic acid) 3D printing foams supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/6/798 |
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