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Gonçalves LFFF, Reis RL, Fernandes EM. Forefront Research of Foaming Strategies on Biodegradable Polymers and Their Composites by Thermal or Melt-Based Processing Technologies: Advances and Perspectives. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1286. [PMID: 38732755 PMCID: PMC11085284 DOI: 10.3390/polym16091286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The last few decades have witnessed significant advances in the development of polymeric-based foam materials. These materials find several practical applications in our daily lives due to their characteristic properties such as low density, thermal insulation, and porosity, which are important in packaging, in building construction, and in biomedical applications, respectively. The first foams with practical applications used polymeric materials of petrochemical origin. However, due to growing environmental concerns, considerable efforts have been made to replace some of these materials with biodegradable polymers. Foam processing has evolved greatly in recent years due to improvements in existing techniques, such as the use of supercritical fluids in extrusion foaming and foam injection moulding, as well as the advent or adaptation of existing techniques to produce foams, as in the case of the combination between additive manufacturing and foam technology. The use of supercritical CO2 is especially advantageous in the production of porous structures for biomedical applications, as CO2 is chemically inert and non-toxic; in addition, it allows for an easy tailoring of the pore structure through processing conditions. Biodegradable polymeric materials, despite their enormous advantages over petroleum-based materials, present some difficulties regarding their potential use in foaming, such as poor melt strength, slow crystallization rate, poor processability, low service temperature, low toughness, and high brittleness, which limits their field of application. Several strategies were developed to improve the melt strength, including the change in monomer composition and the use of chemical modifiers and chain extenders to extend the chain length or create a branched molecular structure, to increase the molecular weight and the viscosity of the polymer. The use of additives or fillers is also commonly used, as fillers can improve crystallization kinetics by acting as crystal-nucleating agents. Alternatively, biodegradable polymers can be blended with other biodegradable polymers to combine certain properties and to counteract certain limitations. This work therefore aims to provide the latest advances regarding the foaming of biodegradable polymers. It covers the main foaming techniques and their advances and reviews the uses of biodegradable polymers in foaming, focusing on the chemical changes of polymers that improve their foaming ability. Finally, the challenges as well as the main opportunities presented reinforce the market potential of the biodegradable polymer foam materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis F. F. F. Gonçalves
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs–Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui L. Reis
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs–Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Emanuel M. Fernandes
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs–Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
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Faba S, Arrieta MP, Romero J, Agüero Á, Torres A, Martínez S, Rayón E, Galotto MJ. Biodegradable nanocomposite poly(lactic acid) foams containing carvacrol-based cocrystal prepared by supercritical CO 2 processing for controlled release in active food packaging. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127793. [PMID: 37926308 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Compounds derived from essential oils have been used in active packaging, but their volatility and degradability negatively affect stability and leads to high release rates. The present study aimed to develop PLA bionanocomposite foams loaded with carvacrol cocrystal by supercritical CO2 and its release into a food simulant for control release in food packaging. For this purpose, 4,4'-bipyridine was used as coformer and carvacrol as active agent. Cocrystallized closed cell foams were obtained using supercritical CO2 and were characterized in terms of their physicochemical and mechanical properties, and release kinetics to a D1 simulant were evaluated as well as the antioxidant ability. A better overall mechanical behavior due to the nanoclay promoting a higher interfacial adhesion with the polymeric matrix was revealed. A higher incorporation of carvacrol was observed in samples with higher C30B content. The incorporated cocrystals showed a decrease of one order of magnitude in the estimated effective diffusion coefficient of carvacrol and showed antioxidant activity. These results suggest that the nanocomposite foam containing carvacrol-based cocrystals could be used in active packaging systems with controlled release characteristics, especially with highly volatile compounds, and can be proposed for other fields such as biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simón Faba
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN), Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Technology, Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile.
| | - Marina P Arrieta
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química Industrial y del Medio Ambiente, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSII-UPM), Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; Grupo de Investigación: Polímeros, Caracterización y Aplicaciones (POLCA), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Romero
- Laboratory of Membrane Separation Processes (LabProSeM), Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioprocesses, Engineering Faculty, University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), 9170201 Santiago, Chile
| | - Ángel Agüero
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química Industrial y del Medio Ambiente, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSII-UPM), Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; Institut de Tecnologia de Materials (ITM), Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Plaza Ferrándiz y Carbonell 1, 03801 Alcoy, Spain
| | - Alejandra Torres
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN), Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Technology, Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
| | - Sara Martínez
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN), Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Technology, Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile
| | - Emilio Rayón
- Institut de Tecnologia de Materials, Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Camino de Vera, s/n, Código Postal 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - María José Galotto
- Packaging Innovation Center (LABEN), Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Technology, Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 9170201, Chile.
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Weber D, Srinivas Sundarram S. 3D
‐printed and foamed triply periodic minimal surface lattice structures for energy absorption applications. POLYM ENG SCI 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pen.26270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Weber
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Fairfield University Fairfield Connecticut USA
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Dippold M, Ruckdäschel H. Influence of pressure-induced temperature drop on the foaming behavior of amorphous polylactide (PLA) during autoclave foaming with supercritical CO2. J Supercrit Fluids 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.supflu.2022.105734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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Peng K, Mubarak S, Diao X, Cai Z, Zhang C, Wang J, Wu L. Progress in the Preparation, Properties, and Applications of PLA and Its Composite Microporous Materials by Supercritical CO 2: A Review from 2020 to 2022. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14204320. [PMID: 36297898 PMCID: PMC9611929 DOI: 10.3390/polym14204320] [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: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of degradable plastic foams is in line with the current development concept of being pollution free and sustainable. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) microporous foam with biodegradability, good heat resistance, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties can be successfully applied in cushioning packaging, heat insulation, noise reduction, filtration and adsorption, tissue engineering, and other fields. This paper summarizes and critically evaluates the latest research on preparing PLA microporous materials by supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) physical foaming since 2020. This paper first introduces the scCO2 foaming technologies for PLA and its composite foams, discusses the CO2-assisted foaming processes, and analyzes the effects of process parameters on PLA foaming. After that, the paper reviews the effects of modification methods such as chemical modification, filler filling, and mixing on the rheological and crystallization behaviors of PLA and provides an in-depth analysis of the mechanism of PLA foaming behavior to provide theoretical guidance for future research on PLA foaming. Lastly, the development and applications of PLA microporous materials based on scCO2 foaming technologies are prospected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangming Peng
- CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Suhail Mubarak
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Chonnam National University, Yeosu-si 59626, Jeonnam, Korea
| | - Xuefeng Diao
- Jinyoung (Xiamen) Advanced Materials Technology Co., Ltd., Xiamen 361028, China
| | - Zewei Cai
- CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, China
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- School of Materials and Chemistry Engineering, Minjiang University, Xiyuangong Road No. 200, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Industrial Design Institute, Minjiang University, Xiyuangong Road No. 200, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Correspondence: (C.Z.); (J.W.); (L.W.)
| | - Jianlei Wang
- CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Correspondence: (C.Z.); (J.W.); (L.W.)
| | - Lixin Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Correspondence: (C.Z.); (J.W.); (L.W.)
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Wei X, Luo J, Wang X, Zhou H, Pang Y. ScCO 2-assisted fabrication and compressive property of poly (lactic acid) foam reinforced by in-situ polytetrafluoroethylene fibrils. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 209:2050-2060. [PMID: 35490769 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.04.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
As an effective alternative for petrochemical-based polymers, bio-based poly (lactic acid) (PLA) foam has been anticipated to alleviate enormous environmental pollution caused by microplastics. However, some difficulties involved in PLA foaming process due to the inherently poor melt strength and crystallization properties. In this context, a small amount of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was incorporated into PLA matrix to solve the aforementioned issues. Scanning electron microscopy measurement exhibited that PTFE fibrils and their physical networks were formed in molten PLA after blending. Due to these PTFE networks, approximately 2 orders of magnitudes increment in the storage modulus and more than 20% improvement in crystallinity of PLA were obtained. Diverse PLA samples were successfully foamed by a cost-effective, green and supercritical CO2-assisted foaming method. The PLA/PTFE foam with the PTFE content of 5 wt% (PLA/PTFE5) possessed the smallest pore size (9.51 μm) and the highest pore density (2.60 × 108 pores/cm3). In addition, the average specific compressive strength of PLA/PTFE5 foam was enhanced 30% in comparison with that of pure PLA foam. Overall, this study could provide a prospective strategy for developing bioderived and biodegradable polymer foams with controllable pore structures and high compression property.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Wei
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Quality Evaluation Technology for Hygiene and Safety of Plastics, College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingyun Luo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Quality Evaluation Technology for Hygiene and Safety of Plastics, College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangdong Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Quality Evaluation Technology for Hygiene and Safety of Plastics, College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongfu Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Quality Evaluation Technology for Hygiene and Safety of Plastics, College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yongyan Pang
- Laboratory of Polymers and Composites, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315201, People's Republic of China.
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Tor-Świątek A, Garbacz T, Stloukal P. Analysis of Selected Properties of Microporous PLA as a Result of Abiotic Degradation. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15093133. [PMID: 35591467 PMCID: PMC9101509 DOI: 10.3390/ma15093133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In the study, an investigation was made into the hydrolytic degradation behavior of the microporous polylactide (PLA) in the initial stage in three biological buffer solutions with various pH-simulating body fluids in comparison with pure PLA. Studies also include the analysis of selected mechanical properties and physical structures. A microporous PLA was obtained by melt extrusion using a chemical blowing agent. The rate of Mw decrease induced by hydrolysis over 35 days of microporous PLA was roughly comparable to the pure material. The rate of depolymerization was slightly accelerated at an acid pH due to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis at the end of the observed period. The mechanical analysis showed the influence of various pH on the obtained results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Tor-Świątek
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, 36 Nadbystrzycka, Str., 20-816 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Tomasz Garbacz
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, 36 Nadbystrzycka, Str., 20-816 Lublin, Poland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Petr Stloukal
- Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Tř. T. Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic;
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Tang Y, Wang Y, Chen S, Wang X. Fabrication of low-density poly(lactic acid) microcellular foam by self-assembly crystallization nucleating agent. Polym Degrad Stab 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2022.109891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Zhang C, Wan L, Gu H, Hu Q, Ding Y, Ying S. Preparation and properties of foamed cellulose acetate/polylactic acid blends. POLYM ENG SCI 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pen.25819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chenghao Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing China
| | - Lei Wan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing China
| | - Han Gu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing China
| | - Qipeng Hu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing China
| | - Yajun Ding
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing China
- Key Laboratory of Special Energy Materials (Nanjing University of Science and Technology), Ministry of Education Nanjing China
| | - Sanjiu Ying
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing China
- Key Laboratory of Special Energy Materials (Nanjing University of Science and Technology), Ministry of Education Nanjing China
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Effect of Chemical Blowing Agent on the PVC Cellular Coating Extrusion. MATERIALS 2020; 13:ma13245752. [PMID: 33339357 PMCID: PMC7767048 DOI: 10.3390/ma13245752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Depending on the type and application, the coatings of power, electric, telecommunication cables as well as other types of conduits are made of various kinds of polymer plastics. However, most often, because of good mechanical properties and many other advantages, they are first of all made from polyvinyl chlorine (PVC). This paper contains characteristics of the developed cellular extrusion of cable coatings, as well as specification of the blowing agent (BA) used and selected research results of the obtained cellular extrusion product. In technological tests the coating extrusion technological line was used. The material was modified with a new blowing agent of exothermic distribution of process characteristics, which was introduced into the material in quantities from 0.2 to 0.6% wt. The amount of blowing agent used has a direct impact on the density and structure of the received result for the extrusion of modified polymers. The cellular structure of the cellular coatings was presented. The results of the study are thin-walled properties of single- and double-layer cellular outer coatings, forming an outer surface on a steel wire. The research on the structure of manufactured materials, density and the degree of porosity, water and oil absorptivity, mechanical strength is presented.
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