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Velásquez E, Patiño Vidal C, Copello G, López de Dicastillo C, Pérez CJ, Guarda A, Galotto MJ. Developing Post-Consumer Recycled Flexible Polypropylene and Fumed Silica-Based Nanocomposites with Improved Processability and Thermal Stability. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15051142. [PMID: 36904386 PMCID: PMC10007108 DOI: 10.3390/polym15051142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Collection and mechanical recycling of post-consumer flexible polypropylene packaging is limited, principally due to polypropylene being very light-weight. Moreover, service life and thermal-mechanical reprocessing degrade PP and change its thermal and rheological properties according to the structure and provenance of recycled PP. This work determined the effect of incorporating two fumed nanosilica (NS) types on processability improvement of post-consumer recycled flexible polypropylene (PCPP) through ATR-FTIR, TGA, DSC, MFI and rheological analysis. Presence of trace polyethylene in the collected PCPP increased the thermal stability of the PP and was significantly maximized by NS addition. The onset decomposition temperature raised around 15 °C when 4 and 2 wt% of a non-treated and organically modified NS were used, respectively. NS acted as a nucleating agent and increased the crystallinity of the polymer, but the crystallization and melting temperatures were not affected. The processability of the nanocomposites was improved, observed as an increase in viscosity, storage and loss moduli with respect to the control PCPP, which were deteriorated due to chain scission during recycling. The highest recovery in viscosity and reduction in MFI were found for the hydrophilic NS due to a greater impact of hydrogen bond interactions between the silanol groups of this NS and the oxidized groups of the PCPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliezer Velásquez
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN-Chile), University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
- Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago of Chile, Santiago 9170124, Chile
- Correspondence:
| | - Cristian Patiño Vidal
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN-Chile), University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
- Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago of Chile, Santiago 9170124, Chile
| | - Guillermo Copello
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina
- Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina
| | - Carol López de Dicastillo
- Packaging Laboratory, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - C. J. Pérez
- Institute of Materials Science and Technology (INTEMA), National University of Mar del Plata-National Research Council (CONICET), Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
| | - Abel Guarda
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN-Chile), University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
- Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago of Chile, Santiago 9170124, Chile
- Food Science and Technology Department, Technological Faculty, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
| | - María José Galotto
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN-Chile), University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
- Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago of Chile, Santiago 9170124, Chile
- Food Science and Technology Department, Technological Faculty, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
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Velásquez E, López de Dicastillo C, Patiño Vidal C, Copello G, Reyes C, Guarda A, Galotto MJ. Feasibility of Valorization of Post-Consumer Recycled Flexible Polypropylene by Adding Fumed Nanosilica for Its Potential Use in Food Packaging toward Sustainability. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15051081. [PMID: 36904321 PMCID: PMC10005770 DOI: 10.3390/polym15051081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The food industry has a current challenge of increasing the recycling of post-consumer plastics to reduce plastic waste towards a circular economy, especially flexible polypropylene, which is highly demanded in food packaging. However, recycling post-consumer plastics is limited because service life and reprocessing degrade their physical-mechanical properties and modify the migration of components from the recycled material to the food. This research evaluated the feasibility of valorization of post-consumer recycled flexible polypropylene (PCPP) by incorporating fumed nanosilica (NS). For this purpose, the effect of concentration and type (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) of NS on the morphological, mechanical, sealing, barrier and overall migration properties of PCPP films was studied. Incorporating NS improved Young's modulus and, more significantly, tensile strength at 0.5 wt% and 1 wt%, where a better particle dispersion was confirmed by EDS-SEM, but it diminished elongation at breakage of the films. Interestingly, NS tended to increase the seal strength of PCPP nanocomposite films more significantly at higher NS content, showing a seal failure of the adhesive peel type which is preferred for flexible packaging. NS at 1 wt% did not affect the water vapor and oxygen permeabilities of the films. Overall migration of PCPP and nanocomposites exceeded the limit value of 10 mg dm-2 allowed by European legislation at the studied concentrations of 1% and 4 wt%. Nonetheless, NS reduced the overall migration of PCPP from 17.3 to 15 mg dm-2 in all nanocomposites. In conclusion, PCPP with 1 wt% of hydrophobic NS presented an improved overall performance of the studied packaging properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliezer Velásquez
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN-Chile), University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
- Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago of Chile, Santiago 9170124, Chile
- Correspondence:
| | - Carol López de Dicastillo
- Packaging Laboratory, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA-CSIC), 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - Cristian Patiño Vidal
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN-Chile), University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
- Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago of Chile, Santiago 9170124, Chile
| | - Guillermo Copello
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Junín 956, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina
- CONICET—Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), Junín 956, Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina
| | - Cristopher Reyes
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN-Chile), University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
| | - Abel Guarda
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN-Chile), University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
- Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago of Chile, Santiago 9170124, Chile
- Food Science and Technology Department, Technological Faculty, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
| | - María José Galotto
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN-Chile), University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
- Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago of Chile, Santiago 9170124, Chile
- Food Science and Technology Department, Technological Faculty, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
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Benz J, Bonten C. Rigid Amorphous Fraction as an Indicator for Polymer-Polymer Interactions in Highly Filled Plastics. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13193349. [PMID: 34641165 PMCID: PMC8512654 DOI: 10.3390/polym13193349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Above a percolation threshold a flow restriction has to be overcome by higher pressure in plastic processing. Besides amount and geometry of fillers, the interactions of polymer and filler are important. By differing the amorphous phase of polymers into a rigid amorphous and a mobile amorphous fraction, predictions about interactions are possible. The objective is the generation of a flow restriction and the combined investigation of polymer-particle interaction. SiO2 was used up to 50 vol.% in different spherical sizes in PLA and PP. A capillary-rheometer was used as a tool to create a yield point and by that investigations into the state of the flow restriction were possible. All produced compounds showed, in plate-plate rheometry, an increase in viscosity for lower shear rates and a significant change in the storage modulus. In DSC, hardly any specific rigid amorphous fraction was detectable, which suggests that there is a minor interaction between macromolecules and filler. This leads to the conclusion that the change in flow behavior is mainly caused by a direct interaction between the particles, even though they are theoretically too far away from each other. First images in the state of the yield point show a displacement of the particles against each other.
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Tyagi P, Salem KS, Hubbe MA, Pal L. Advances in barrier coatings and film technologies for achieving sustainable packaging of food products – A review. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Feldman D. Polyolefin, olefin copolymers and polyolefin polyblend nanocomposites. JOURNAL OF MACROMOLECULAR SCIENCE PART A-PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/10601325.2016.1212313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Courtat J, Melis F, Taulemesse JM, Bounor-Legare V, Sonnier R, Ferry L, Cassagnau P. Effect of phosphorous-modified silica on the flame retardancy of polypropylene based nanocomposites. Polym Degrad Stab 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2015.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Azizurrahaman, Jha AK, Akhtar M. Thermal and microwave dielectric properties of Cu/polyethylene oxide composite powder prepared by mechanical blending method. ADV POWDER TECHNOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apt.2015.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Ebrahimpour O, Esmaeili B, Griffon L, Chaouki J, Dubois C. Novel fabrication route for porous silicon carbide ceramics through the combination ofin situpolymerization and reaction bonding techniques. J Appl Polym Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/app.40425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Omid Ebrahimpour
- Department of Chemical Engineering; École Polytechnique de Montréal; P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville Montréal Canada
| | - Babak Esmaeili
- Department of Chemical Engineering; École Polytechnique de Montréal; P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville Montréal Canada
| | - Lucie Griffon
- Department of Chemical Engineering; École Polytechnique de Montréal; P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville Montréal Canada
| | - Jamal Chaouki
- Department of Chemical Engineering; École Polytechnique de Montréal; P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville Montréal Canada
| | - Charles Dubois
- Department of Chemical Engineering; École Polytechnique de Montréal; P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville Montréal Canada
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