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Thermal degradation of poly(lactic acid)–zeolite composites produced by melt-blending

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Abstract

Various zeolites (4A, Y, 13X) and related fillers (molecular sieves and coal fly ash) were used to prepare PLA composites and to assess their degrading effect on the polyester matrix under different processing conditions, at various zeolite/filler loadings. In this objective, untreated fillers, as well as washed and thermally activated zeolites, were used. PLA–zeolite composites were produced by melt-blending step followed by the evaluation of rheological information and molecular and thermal characteristics. The degradation of PLA during the preparation and processing of PLA–zeolite composites, or due to the presence of fillers, was evidenced by specific analyses (SEC, DSC, TGA, TG-FTIR). PLA degradation was mainly dependent on the nature of zeolite, filler loading, and thermal and processing history. The results of the study suggest that a stronger degradation effect is obtained by the addition of zeolite 4A into PLA (at loading of 5–10%) with respect to other zeolites (e.g., 13X and Y). It was also revealed the key roles of the temperature and residence time (as parameters in melt-mixing process), free alkalinity level, and water uptake in determining the ultimate characteristics of composites. The washing and thermal activation pretreatments of fillers have diminished in some cases the degradation of PLA matrix. Finally, the study also highlights the zeolite grades capable of being used to produce new PLA composites with competitive properties and those that could be of interest to improve PLA recycling by pyrolysis.

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Adapted with permission from: Xu L, Crawford K, Gorman CB (2011) [54]. Copyright (2011) American Chemical Society

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Acknowledgements

The authors from the University of Mons & Materia Nova thank the Wallonia Region, Nord-Pas de Calais Region and European Community for the financial support in the frame of the INTERREG IV—NANOLAC project and FEDER 2014-2020 program (PROSTEM project). M. Pires thank to the University of Mons, PUCRS and CNPq (Grants 309623/2012-0; 551433/2010-8) for the post-doc grant and financial support. A. Cardoso thanks CAPES for Ph.D. Grant (01714947092). Special thanks are addressed to Mr. Francisco CACHO (IQE, Spain) for zeolite samples and their characterization, information kindly sent for utilization in the frame of this study. The authors thank to Dr. Olivier Persenaire, Anne-Laure Dechief and OlteaMurariu from Materia Nova R&D Center for helpfully discussions and assistance in the preparation and characterization of samples.

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  1. Center of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, University of Mons & Materia Nova Research Center, Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium

    Marius Murariu, Leila Bonnaud & Philippe Dubois

  2. Laboratory of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, School of Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, 90619-900, Brazil

    Marçal Pires & Ariela M. Cardoso

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  1. Marçal Pires
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Pires, M., Murariu, M., Cardoso, A.M. et al. Thermal degradation of poly(lactic acid)–zeolite composites produced by melt-blending. Polym. Bull. 77, 2111–2137 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-019-02846-4

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