• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.580-585
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• 2011

This article aims to enhance the biodegradability and environment-friendliness of petroleum based biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-succinate-co-terephthalate)(PBAST) by blending chemically modified thermoplastic starch(CMPS). CMPS is a kind of bio-based biodegradable resin which is manufactured by reacting starch with maleic anhydride(MA) in the presence of a plasticizer and a free radical initiator. The characteristic properties of PBAST/CMPS blends were investigated by observing their morphology, thermal, mechanical properties, and biodegradability. The good interfacial adhesion between the phases examined by SEM revealed that PBAST/CMPS blends were compatible blends. The tensile strength and elongation decreased with increasing CMPS content, while modulus increased. The biodegradability of the blends was much higher than that of pristine PBAST and increased with increasing CMPS contents.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.557-564
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• 2005

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) was manufactured and blended with poly(butylene adipate-co-succinate) (PBAS), which is one of the most popular biodegradable aliphatic polyesters. The effects of the TPS contents on the mechanical properties, thermal characteristics, and biodegradability of PBAS/TPS blends were investigated. The foaming characteristics of those were also studied. With small amount of TPS, mechanical properties of the blends were largely deteriorated and the variations of them decreased with more addition of TPS. In addition, TPS decreased crystallinity and thermal decomposition temperature of PBAS. The PBAS/TPS foam having maximum blowing ratio was obtained with 20 Phr of TPS, and their blowing ratio decreased with the further increase of TPS.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.44-52
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• 2002

Composite materials are created by combining two or more component to achieve desired properties which could not be obtained with the separate components. The use of reinforcing fillers, which can reduce material costs and improve certain properties, is increasing in thermoplastic polymer composites. Currently, various inorganic fillers such as talc, mica, clay, glass fiber and calcium carbonate are being incorporated into thermoplastic composites. Nevertheless, lignocellulose fibers have drawn attention due to their abundant availability, low cost and renewable nature. In recent, interest has grown in composites made from lignocellulose fiber in thermoplastic polymer matrices, particularly for low cost/high volume applications. In addition to high specific properties, lignocellulose fibers offer a number of benefits for lignocellulose fiber/thermoplastic polymer composites. These include low hardness, which minimize abrasion of the equipment during processing, relatively low density, biodegradability, and low cost on a unit-volume basis. In spite of the advantage mentioned above, the use of lignocellulose fibers in thermoplastic polymer composites has been plagued by difficulties in obtaining good dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion because lignocellulose fiber is hydrophilic and thermoplastic polymer is hydrophobic. The application of lignocellulose fibers as reinforcements in composite materials requires, just as for glass-fiber reinforced composites, a strong adhesion between the fiber and the matrix regardless of whether a traditional polymer matrix, a biodegradable polymer matrix or cement is used. Further this article gives a survey about physical and chemical treatment methods which improve the fiber matrix adhesion, their results and effects on the physical properties of composites. Coupling agents in lignocellulose fiber and polymer composites play a very important role in improving the compatibility and adhesion between polar lignocellulose fiber and non-polar polymeric matrices. In this article, we also review various kinds of coupling agent and interfacial mechanism or phenomena between lignocellulose fiber and thermoplastic polymer.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.357-357
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• 2006

Many industrial sources of proteins can be used as raw materials to produce films, molded materials, and various hollow items either by "casting" techniques or by "thermoplastic processing". Combining proteins with natural fibbers, paper or biodegradable polyesters is very promising to form biodegradable composites witch take advantage of the barrier and mechanical properties of each component. Using nano-fillers to form nanocomposites has also been shown to be interesting to improve properties. Production, with low transformation cost, of protein based materials to form biodegradable materials with controlled functional properties for food uses, medical uses, packaging, agriculture, controlled release systems, etc. is discussed.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.54-59
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• 2002

ABA triblock copolymers of L-lactide and trimethylene carbonate with several different compositions were prepared by sequential ring-opening polymerization in the presence of diethylene glycol. Also chain-extension reactions of the resulting copolymers were carried out using hexamethylene diisocyanate to produce relatively high molecular weight polymers, which could be cast into elastomeric tough films. The polymers with certain L-lactide contents were partially crystalline, exhibiting two-phase morphology. The polymer films showed reversible elastic behavior under tensile tension, providing a novel thermoplastic elastomer possessing desirable properties such as biodegradability and good mechanical properties.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2023

Growing environmental concerns regarding pollution caused by conventional plastics have increased interest in biodegradable polymers as alternative materials. The purpose of this study is to develop a 100% biodegradable nanocomposite material by introducing organic nucleating agents into the biodegradable and thermoplastic resin, poly(lactic acid), to improve its properties. Accordingly, cellulose nanofibers, an eco-friendly material, were adopted as a substitute for inorganic nucleating agents. To achieve a uniform dispersion of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) within PLA, the aqueous solution of nanofibers was lyophilized to maintain their fibrous shape. Then, they were subjected to primary mixing using a twin-screw extruder. Test specimens with double mixing were then produced by injection molding. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to confirm the reinforced physical properties, and it was found that the addition of 1 wt% CNFs acted as a reinforcing material and nucleating agent, reducing the cold crystallization temperature by approximately 14℃ and increasing the degree of crystallization. This study provides an environmentally friendly alternative for developing plastic materials with enhanced properties, which can contribute to a sustainable future without consuming inorganic nucleating agents. It serves as a basis for developing 100% biodegradable green nanocomposites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.370-371
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• 2003

Poly(lactic acid) is a thermoplastic and biodegradable polymer[1-3]. It has a wide range of application in medical fields such as sutures, screws for bone fractures and drug delivery systems. It has additional potential in other fields like agriculture and packaging. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in star-shaped polymers because they have a higher segment density within the distance of its radius of rotation than linear polymers have under the same conditions.[4] (omitted)

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.273-278
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• 2013

PLA/PP polymer blends in various ratios (PLA:PP = 9:1, 4:1, 3:1, and 1:1), and their composites (PLA:PP = 1:1) with sisal fiber (10, 15 and 20 wt%) were fabricated using MAPP as compatibilizer. The aim of the work was to reduce the cost of biodegradable composites as well as to improve the impact strength of PLA using PP, a relatively cheaper thermoplastic. The developed composites were characterized for their morphological and mechanical properties. The tensile strength and modulus of the blends were decreased with increasing PP content whereas the strain at break and impact strength are increased. The tensile strength, modulus and water absorption were increased for hybrid composites with increasing fiber content.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.977-982
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• 2013

Cellulose mixed esters (CME), substituted by various fatty acyl chains, are renewable bio-based polyesters. It has lots of potential due to the biodegradable property. In this study, Alpha cellulose was activated for 2h at $40^{\circ}C$ in deionized water prior to synthesis. Homogeneous esterification of CME was accomplished with water-activated alpha cellulose, various saturated fatty acids and acetic anhydride in lithium chloride/N,N-dimethylacetamide (LiCl/DMAc) medium. CME was obtained after 5 hr at $120^{\circ}C$. The filtrated products were characterized using TGA, FT-IR, 1H-NMR and FE-SEM, and the influence of water activation on the total degree of substitution was investigated.