NEW MATERIALS BASED ON POLYLACTIC ACID WITH CONTROLLED FLEXIBILITY – FLEX4PLA
Funding: Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS – UEFISCDI
Programme: PNCDI III – Human resources – Research projects to stimulate young independent teams 2019, PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-1333
Research domain: PE5_7 – Biomaterials, biomaterials synthesis; PE5_1 – Structural properties of materials
Project title: NEW MATERIALS BASED ON POLYLACTIC ACID WITH CONTROLLED FLEXIBILITY – FLEX4PLA
Financing contract: no. 67/2020
Total funding: 431.900,00 RON
Project duration: 24 months
Period of project implementation: 15.09.2020-14.09.2022
Contractor: National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry – ICECHIM, Bucharest
Project Manager: PhD eng Adriana Nicoleta Frone
E-Mail address: ,
HUMAN RESOURCE ALLOCATION
Frone Adriana Nicoleta, CS 1, Project Leader
Corobea Mihai Cosmin, CS 1, Young Researcher
Panaitescu Denis Mihaela, CS 1, Researcher
Radu Elena Ruxandra, ACS, PhD Student
Teodorescu George-Mihail, ACS, Master’s Student
Bădilă Ştefania, ACS, Master’s Student
Iordache Tanţa Verona, CS 1, Young Researcher
Florea Ana-Mihaela, CS 3, Post-doc
Raduly Monica Florentina, CS 3, Young Researcher
Vacant position, ACS, Master’s Student
PROJECT SUMMARY
The present project fits into the stream of study and characterization of biobased materials, considering the need to improve their properties from a technological point of view to allow their wider use in final products. Currently, biopolymers have found applications in fields starting from packaging to automotive but an almost unexploited market segment is represented by materials intended for children goods. Most of the global produced toys and other goods for children are made with conventional plastics derived from non-renewable petrochemicals containing dangerous chemical additives to ensure flexibility, natural feel and easy coloring. Thus, the FLEX4PLA project aims the research and design of new biomaterials in which both polymers and additives are being derived from renewable resources. The approach of FLEX4PLA consists in the synthesis of new bioelastomers compatible with PLA from biobased resources and the design of a new technological route to ensure nanodispersion and an engineered interface in PLA/bioelastomers nanomaterials. The new nanomaterials will exhibit the good elasticity of the bioelastomer and the excellent processability of PLA and no more that 10% decrease in strength compared to neat PLA. Tensile properties, impact tests, melt flow index, fracture behavior and morphology will be performed in order to characterize the new biomaterials with the aim of correlating the composition to processability and thus establishing the final properties.
NOVELTY AND ORIGINALITY
FLEX4PLA project will innovate by using new synthesized biobased bioelastomers coupled with NC with controlled surface properties as toughening modifiers and compatibilizer for PLA.
OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of this project are:
- Setting-up the best conditions for the development of bioelastomer component;
- Designing nanocelulose with controlled hydrophobicity (high and medium level);
- Optimizing the components ratio and technology for PLA/bioelastomer/NC bionanocomposites; sweeping the composition for the best toughness and elongation at break;
- Setting-up the technological conditions for the development of nanocomposite biomaterials model;
- Dissemination of the project results and Protection of Intellectual Property Rights.
ESTIMATED RESULTS
The specific objectives of this project are:
- Setting-up the best conditions for the development of bioelastomer component;
- Designing nanocelulose with controlled hydrophobicity (high and medium level);
- Optimizing the components ratio and technology for PLA/bioelastomer/NC bionanocomposites; sweeping the composition for the best toughness and elongation at break;
- Setting-up the technological conditions for the development of nanocomposite biomaterials model;
- Dissemination of the project results and Protection of Intellectual Property Rights.
PHASES
PHASE I
Title: Setting up the preliminary conditions for synthesis of bioelastomers; Structure and composition analysis; NC functionalization
Period: 15.09.2020 – 31.12.2020
Summary of the activity report
During the 1st phase of FLEX4PLA project, a selection of the raw materials that will be employed for the polycondensation reactions has been made on the basis of the eco-friendly character of the material sources. Sebacic acid was chosen for the preliminary synthesis of the bioelastomers and the synthesis conditions were established. Also during this first stage of this project, several functionalization reactions were performed in order to decrease the hydrophilic characteristics of the nanocellulose. In this regard, two organosilane-type coupling agents and a carboxylic acid were tested. The efficiency of the functionalization reactions was highlighted by specific morpho-structural analyzes (atomic force microscopy – AFM, infrared spectroscopic analysis – FTIR, static contact angle) and thermogravimetric analysis – TGA. The results of the FTIR analysis indicated the presence in the nanocellulose structure of the specific functional groups belonging to the employed functionalization agents. Moreover, the AFM results showed different morphologies of nanocellulose depending of the functionalization agent type. As expected, the modification of the nanocellulose surface with silane coupling agents led to increased of both static contact angles values (from 29 °- control sample to 89 °) and thermal stability.
DISSEMINATION
Conferences:
1. Radu, E.-R.; Panaitescu, D.M.; Gabor, A.R.; Nicolae, C.A.; Frone, A.N. Bio-Based Polyester/Cellulose Films for Engineering Applications. The 16th International Symposium “Priorities of Chemistry for a Sustainable Development” PRIOCHEM, Bucharest, Romania, 28–30 October 2020 (Oral presentation). Proceedings 2020, 57, 36, ISSN 2504 – 3900;