Adding Value in Production of Multifunctional Polylactide (PLA)–ZnO Nanocomposite Films through Alternative Manufacturing Methods
Due to the added value conferred by zinc oxide (ZnO) nanofiller, e.g., UV protection, antibacterial action, gas-barrier properties, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)–ZnO nanocomposites show increased interest for utilization as films, textile fibers, and injection molding items. The study highlights the benef...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-04-01
|
| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/7/2043 |
| _version_ | 1827696028844818432 |
|---|---|
| author | Marius Murariu Samira Benali Yoann Paint Anne-Laure Dechief Oltea Murariu Jean-Marie Raquez Philippe Dubois |
| author_facet | Marius Murariu Samira Benali Yoann Paint Anne-Laure Dechief Oltea Murariu Jean-Marie Raquez Philippe Dubois |
| author_sort | Marius Murariu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to the added value conferred by zinc oxide (ZnO) nanofiller, e.g., UV protection, antibacterial action, gas-barrier properties, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)–ZnO nanocomposites show increased interest for utilization as films, textile fibers, and injection molding items. The study highlights the beneficial effects of premixing ZnO in PLA under given conditions and its use as masterbatch (MB), a very promising alternative manufacturing technique. This approach allows reducing the residence time at high processing temperature of the thermo-sensitive PLA matrix in contact of ZnO nanoparticles known for their aptitude to promote degradation effects onto the polyester chains. Various PLA–ZnO MBs containing high contents of silane-treated ZnO nanoparticles (up to 40 wt.% nanofiller specifically treated with triethoxycaprylylsilane) were produced by melt-compounding using twin-screw extruders. Subsequently, the selected MBs were melt blended with pristine PLA to produce nanocomposite films containing 1–3 wt.% ZnO. By comparison to the more traditional multi-step process, the MB approach allowed the production of nanocomposites (films) having improved processing and enhanced properties: PLA chains displaying higher molecular weights, improved thermal stability, fine nanofiller distribution, and thermo-mechanical characteristic features, while the UV protection was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy measurements. The MB alternative is viewed as a promising flexible technique able to open new perspectives to produce more competitive multifunctional PLA–ZnO nanocomposites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:39:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e792e230f7324e5080b64cb68b95b21a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:39:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-e792e230f7324e5080b64cb68b95b21a2023-11-21T14:05:24ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-04-01267204310.3390/molecules26072043Adding Value in Production of Multifunctional Polylactide (PLA)–ZnO Nanocomposite Films through Alternative Manufacturing MethodsMarius Murariu0Samira Benali1Yoann Paint2Anne-Laure Dechief3Oltea Murariu4Jean-Marie Raquez5Philippe Dubois6Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Materia Nova Materials R&D Center & UMons Innovation Center, Avenue Copernic 3, 7000 Mons, BelgiumCenter of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, University of Mons (UMons), Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, BelgiumLaboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Materia Nova Materials R&D Center & UMons Innovation Center, Avenue Copernic 3, 7000 Mons, BelgiumLaboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Materia Nova Materials R&D Center & UMons Innovation Center, Avenue Copernic 3, 7000 Mons, BelgiumLaboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Materia Nova Materials R&D Center & UMons Innovation Center, Avenue Copernic 3, 7000 Mons, BelgiumCenter of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, University of Mons (UMons), Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, BelgiumLaboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, Materia Nova Materials R&D Center & UMons Innovation Center, Avenue Copernic 3, 7000 Mons, BelgiumDue to the added value conferred by zinc oxide (ZnO) nanofiller, e.g., UV protection, antibacterial action, gas-barrier properties, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)–ZnO nanocomposites show increased interest for utilization as films, textile fibers, and injection molding items. The study highlights the beneficial effects of premixing ZnO in PLA under given conditions and its use as masterbatch (MB), a very promising alternative manufacturing technique. This approach allows reducing the residence time at high processing temperature of the thermo-sensitive PLA matrix in contact of ZnO nanoparticles known for their aptitude to promote degradation effects onto the polyester chains. Various PLA–ZnO MBs containing high contents of silane-treated ZnO nanoparticles (up to 40 wt.% nanofiller specifically treated with triethoxycaprylylsilane) were produced by melt-compounding using twin-screw extruders. Subsequently, the selected MBs were melt blended with pristine PLA to produce nanocomposite films containing 1–3 wt.% ZnO. By comparison to the more traditional multi-step process, the MB approach allowed the production of nanocomposites (films) having improved processing and enhanced properties: PLA chains displaying higher molecular weights, improved thermal stability, fine nanofiller distribution, and thermo-mechanical characteristic features, while the UV protection was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy measurements. The MB alternative is viewed as a promising flexible technique able to open new perspectives to produce more competitive multifunctional PLA–ZnO nanocomposites.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/7/2043biopolymerspoly(lactic acid)PLAnanocompositeszinc oxidemasterbatch (MB) |
| spellingShingle | Marius Murariu Samira Benali Yoann Paint Anne-Laure Dechief Oltea Murariu Jean-Marie Raquez Philippe Dubois Adding Value in Production of Multifunctional Polylactide (PLA)–ZnO Nanocomposite Films through Alternative Manufacturing Methods Molecules biopolymers poly(lactic acid) PLA nanocomposites zinc oxide masterbatch (MB) |
| title | Adding Value in Production of Multifunctional Polylactide (PLA)–ZnO Nanocomposite Films through Alternative Manufacturing Methods |
| title_full | Adding Value in Production of Multifunctional Polylactide (PLA)–ZnO Nanocomposite Films through Alternative Manufacturing Methods |
| title_fullStr | Adding Value in Production of Multifunctional Polylactide (PLA)–ZnO Nanocomposite Films through Alternative Manufacturing Methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adding Value in Production of Multifunctional Polylactide (PLA)–ZnO Nanocomposite Films through Alternative Manufacturing Methods |
| title_short | Adding Value in Production of Multifunctional Polylactide (PLA)–ZnO Nanocomposite Films through Alternative Manufacturing Methods |
| title_sort | adding value in production of multifunctional polylactide pla zno nanocomposite films through alternative manufacturing methods |
| topic | biopolymers poly(lactic acid) PLA nanocomposites zinc oxide masterbatch (MB) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/7/2043 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariusmurariu addingvalueinproductionofmultifunctionalpolylactideplaznonanocompositefilmsthroughalternativemanufacturingmethods AT samirabenali addingvalueinproductionofmultifunctionalpolylactideplaznonanocompositefilmsthroughalternativemanufacturingmethods AT yoannpaint addingvalueinproductionofmultifunctionalpolylactideplaznonanocompositefilmsthroughalternativemanufacturingmethods AT annelauredechief addingvalueinproductionofmultifunctionalpolylactideplaznonanocompositefilmsthroughalternativemanufacturingmethods AT olteamurariu addingvalueinproductionofmultifunctionalpolylactideplaznonanocompositefilmsthroughalternativemanufacturingmethods AT jeanmarieraquez addingvalueinproductionofmultifunctionalpolylactideplaznonanocompositefilmsthroughalternativemanufacturingmethods AT philippedubois addingvalueinproductionofmultifunctionalpolylactideplaznonanocompositefilmsthroughalternativemanufacturingmethods |