Improved Mechanical, Thermal, and Hydrophobic Properties of PLA Modified with Alkoxysilanes by Reactive Extrusion Process
An eco-friendly strategy for the modification of polylactic acid (PLA) surface properties, using a solvent-free process, is reported. Reactive extrusion (REX) allowed the formation of new covalent bonds between functional molecules and the PLA polymeric matrix, enhancing its mechanical properties an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/15/2475 |
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| author | Elena Torres Aide Gaona Nadia García-Bosch Miguel Muñoz Vicent Fombuena Rosana Moriana Ana Vallés-Lluch |
| author_facet | Elena Torres Aide Gaona Nadia García-Bosch Miguel Muñoz Vicent Fombuena Rosana Moriana Ana Vallés-Lluch |
| author_sort | Elena Torres |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An eco-friendly strategy for the modification of polylactic acid (PLA) surface properties, using a solvent-free process, is reported. Reactive extrusion (REX) allowed the formation of new covalent bonds between functional molecules and the PLA polymeric matrix, enhancing its mechanical properties and modifying surface hydrophobicity. To this end, the PLA backbone was modified using two alkoxysilanes, phenyltriethoxysilane and N-octyltriethoxysilane. The reactive extrusion process was carried out under mild conditions, using melting temperatures between 150 and 180 °C, 300 rpm as screw speed, and a feeding rate of 3 kg·h<sup>−1</sup>. To complete the study, flat tapes of neat and functionalized PLA were obtained through monofilament melt extrusion to quantify the enhancement of mechanical properties and hydrophobicity. The results verified that PLA modified with 3 wt% of N-octyltriethoxysilane improves mechanical and thermal properties, reaching Young’s modulus values of 4.8 GPa, and PLA hydrophobic behavior, with values of water contact angle shifting from 68.6° to 82.2°. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:10:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de8a2ac938dc47c0921a089d90809ec7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:10:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-de8a2ac938dc47c0921a089d90809ec72023-11-22T06:03:29ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602021-07-011315247510.3390/polym13152475Improved Mechanical, Thermal, and Hydrophobic Properties of PLA Modified with Alkoxysilanes by Reactive Extrusion ProcessElena Torres0Aide Gaona1Nadia García-Bosch2Miguel Muñoz3Vicent Fombuena4Rosana Moriana5Ana Vallés-Lluch6Textile Industry Research Association (AITEX), Plaza Emilio Sala 1, 03801 Alcoy, SpainTextile Industry Research Association (AITEX), Plaza Emilio Sala 1, 03801 Alcoy, SpainTextile Industry Research Association (AITEX), Plaza Emilio Sala 1, 03801 Alcoy, SpainTextile Industry Research Association (AITEX), Plaza Emilio Sala 1, 03801 Alcoy, SpainTechnological Institute of Materials (ITM), Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Plaza Ferrándiz y Carbonell 1, 03801 Alcoy, SpainDivision of Bioeconomy and Health, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Drottning Kristinas väg 61, 11428 Stockholm, SwedenCentre for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Camí de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, SpainAn eco-friendly strategy for the modification of polylactic acid (PLA) surface properties, using a solvent-free process, is reported. Reactive extrusion (REX) allowed the formation of new covalent bonds between functional molecules and the PLA polymeric matrix, enhancing its mechanical properties and modifying surface hydrophobicity. To this end, the PLA backbone was modified using two alkoxysilanes, phenyltriethoxysilane and N-octyltriethoxysilane. The reactive extrusion process was carried out under mild conditions, using melting temperatures between 150 and 180 °C, 300 rpm as screw speed, and a feeding rate of 3 kg·h<sup>−1</sup>. To complete the study, flat tapes of neat and functionalized PLA were obtained through monofilament melt extrusion to quantify the enhancement of mechanical properties and hydrophobicity. The results verified that PLA modified with 3 wt% of N-octyltriethoxysilane improves mechanical and thermal properties, reaching Young’s modulus values of 4.8 GPa, and PLA hydrophobic behavior, with values of water contact angle shifting from 68.6° to 82.2°.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/15/2475PLAbiopolymersalkoxysilaneshydrophobicitygraftingmonofilament melt extrusion |
| spellingShingle | Elena Torres Aide Gaona Nadia García-Bosch Miguel Muñoz Vicent Fombuena Rosana Moriana Ana Vallés-Lluch Improved Mechanical, Thermal, and Hydrophobic Properties of PLA Modified with Alkoxysilanes by Reactive Extrusion Process Polymers PLA biopolymers alkoxysilanes hydrophobicity grafting monofilament melt extrusion |
| title | Improved Mechanical, Thermal, and Hydrophobic Properties of PLA Modified with Alkoxysilanes by Reactive Extrusion Process |
| title_full | Improved Mechanical, Thermal, and Hydrophobic Properties of PLA Modified with Alkoxysilanes by Reactive Extrusion Process |
| title_fullStr | Improved Mechanical, Thermal, and Hydrophobic Properties of PLA Modified with Alkoxysilanes by Reactive Extrusion Process |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improved Mechanical, Thermal, and Hydrophobic Properties of PLA Modified with Alkoxysilanes by Reactive Extrusion Process |
| title_short | Improved Mechanical, Thermal, and Hydrophobic Properties of PLA Modified with Alkoxysilanes by Reactive Extrusion Process |
| title_sort | improved mechanical thermal and hydrophobic properties of pla modified with alkoxysilanes by reactive extrusion process |
| topic | PLA biopolymers alkoxysilanes hydrophobicity grafting monofilament melt extrusion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/15/2475 |
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