Fractionated lignin as a green compatibilizer to improve the compatibility of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) /polylactic acid composites

Blending poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA) is a cost-effective strategy to obtain biodegradable plastic with complementary properties. However, the incompatibility between PBAT and PLA is a great challenge for fabricating high-performance composite films. Herein, the ethyl acetate fractionated lignin with the small glass transition temperature and low molecular weight was achieved and incorporated into the PBAT/PLA composite as a compatibilizer. The fractionated lignin can be uniformly dispersed within the PBAT/PLA matrix through a melt blending process and interact with the molecular chain of PBAT and PLA as a bonding bridge, which enhances the intermolecular interactions and reduces the interfacial tension of PBAT/PLA. By adding fractionated lignin, the tensile strength of the PBAT/PLA composite increased by 35.4 % and the yield strength increased by 37.7 %. Owing to lignin, the composite films possessed the ultraviolet shielding function and exhibited better water vapor barrier properties (1.73 ± 0.08 × 10-13 g·cm/cm2·s·Pa). This work conclusively demonstrated that fractionated lignin can be used as a green compatibilizer and a low-cost functional filler for PBAT/PLA materials, and provides guidance for the application of lignin in biodegradable plastics.

A Concise Review on the Physicochemical Properties of Biopolymer Blends Prepared in Ionic Liquids

An enhancement of environmental concern lately has improved the awareness of researchers in employing eco-friendly solvents for processing biopolymers. Recently, ionic liquids have been utilized to prepare biopolymer blends as they are non-volatile and recyclable. Biopolymers such as cellulose, chitin, chitosan, keratin, lignin, silk, starch, and zein are widely used for the preparation of biopolymer blends via dissolution in ionic liquids, followed by coagulation procedure. In this concise review, three types of ionic liquids based on imidazolium cations combined with different counter anions that are frequently utilized to prepare biopolymer blends are described. Moreover, three types of biopolymer blends that are prepared in ionic liquids were classified, specifically polysaccharide/polysaccharide blends, polysaccharide/polypeptide blends, and polysaccharide/bioplastic blends. The physicochemical properties of biopolymer blends prepared in different imidazolium-based ionic liquids are also concisely reviewed. This paper may assist the researchers in the polymer blend area and generate fresh ideas for future research.

Ionic Liquid-Nanostructured Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)

Here, ionic liquids (ILs) based on imidazolium and ammonium cations were used as modifying agents for poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) by extrusion. The effects of the chemical nature of the cation and/or counter anion on the resulting properties of IL-modified PMMA blends were analyzed. It was found that the use of low amounts of ILs (2 wt.%) improved the thermal stability. A plasticizing effect of ILs is evidenced by a decrease in glass transition temperature Tg of the modified PMMA, allowing to get large strains at break (i.e., up to 280% or 400%) compared to neat PMMA. The deformation and fracture mechanisms of PMMA under uniaxial tensile stress (i.e., crazing) reveal that the presence of IL delayed the strain during the initiation step of crazing.

Ionic Liquid as Surfactant Agent of Hydrotalcite: Influence on the Final Properties of Polycaprolactone Matrix

This paper reports the surface treatment of layered double hydroxide (LDH) by using ionic liquid (IL) composed of phosphonium cation combined with 2-ethylhexanoate (EHT) counter anion as surfactant agent. Then, different amounts (1, 3, 5 and 7 wt %) of thermally stable organically modified LDH (up to 350 °C) denoted LDH-EHT were incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix by mechanical milling. The influence of LDH-EHT loading has been investigated on the physical properties, such as the thermal and barrier properties, as well as the morphologies of the resulting nanocomposites. Thus, intercalated or microcomposite morphologies were obtained depending on the LDH-EHT loading, leading to significant reduction of the diffusion coefficient respect to water vapor. The modulation of barrier properties, using low functionalized filler amount, is a very important aspect for materials in packaging applications.

Renewability is not Enough: Recent Advances in the Sustainable Synthesis of Biomass-Derived Monomers and Polymers

Taking advantage of the structural diversity of different biomass resources, recent efforts were directed towards the synthesis of renewable monomers and polymers, either for the substitution of petroleum-based resources or for the design of novel polymers. Not only the use of biomass, but also the development of sustainable chemical approaches is a crucial aspect for the production of sustainable materials. This review discusses the recent examples of chemical modifications and polymerizations of abundant biomass resources with a clear focus on the sustainability of the described processes. Topics such as synthetic methodology, catalysis, and development of new solvent systems or greener alternative reagents are addressed. The chemistry of vegetable oil derivatives, terpenes, lignin, carbohydrates, and sugar-based platform chemicals was selected to highlight the trends in the active field of a sustainable use of renewable resources.

Probing nanomechanical properties with AFM to understand the structure and behavior of polymer blends compatibilized with ionic liquids

The PeakForce QNM AFM mode was used to investigate the nanoscale mechanical properties of poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate)/poly(lactic acid) (PBAT/PLA) blends successfully compatibilized with phosphonium-based ionic liquids (ILs).

Ion pairing in ionic liquids

In the present article we briefly review the extensive discussion in literature about the presence or absence of ion pair-like aggregates in ionic liquids. While some experimental studies point towards the presence of neutral subunits in ionic liquids, many other experiments cannot confirm or even contradict their existence. Ion pairs can be detected directly in the gas phase, but no direct method is available to observe such association behavior in the liquid, and the corresponding indirect experimental proofs are based on such assumptions as unity charges at the ions. However, we have shown by calculating ionic liquid clusters of different sizes that assuming unity charges for ILs is erroneous, because a substantial charge transfer is taking place between the ionic liquid ions that reduce their total charge. Considering these effects might establish a bridge between the contradicting experimental results on this matter. Beside these results, according to molecular dynamics simulations the lifetimes of ion-ion contacts and their joint motions are far too short to verify the existence of neutral units in these materials.

Synergistic effect of PLA–PBAT–PLA tri-block copolymers with two molecular weights as compatibilizers on the mechanical and rheological properties of PLA/PBAT blends

Systematic study on the synergistic effects of different molecular-weight PLA–PBAT–PLA tri-block copolymers on the mechanical and rheological properties of PLA/PBAT blends.