Extrusion foaming of semi-crystalline PLA and PLA/thermoplastic starch blends. 2007

Mihaela Mihai, and Michel A Huneault, and Basil D Favis, and Hongbo Li
CREPEC, Chemical Engineering Department, Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H3C 3A7.

Low density open-cell foams were obtained from polylactic acid (PLA) and from blends of PLA with thermoplastic starch (TPS) using CO(2) as a blowing agent. Two unexpected features were found. First, a 2D cavitation process in the fractured cell walls was unveiled. Elliptical cavities with dimensions in the 100-300 nm range were aligned perpendicular to large cell cracks clearly exhibiting 2D crazing prior to macroscopic cell rupture. Secondly, a significant crystallization rate increase associated with the CO(2) foaming of PLA was discovered. While the PLA used in this study crystallized very slowly in isothermal crystallization, the PLA foams exhibited up to 15% crystallinity, providing evidence that CO(2) plasticization and the biaxial stretching upon foam expansion provided conditions that could increase the crystallization rate by several orders of magnitude.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007700 Kinetics The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D010969 Plastics Polymeric materials (usually organic) of large molecular weight which can be shaped by flow. Plastic usually refers to the final product with fillers, plasticizers, pigments, and stabilizers included (versus the resin, the homogeneous polymeric starting material). (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Plastic
D011091 Polyesters Polymers of organic acids and alcohols, with ester linkages--usually polyethylene terephthalate; can be cured into hard plastic, films or tapes, or fibers which can be woven into fabrics, meshes or velours. Polyester
D011108 Polymers Compounds formed by the joining of smaller, usually repeating, units linked by covalent bonds. These compounds often form large macromolecules (e.g., BIOPOLYMERS; PLASTICS). Polymer
D002245 Carbon Dioxide A colorless, odorless gas that can be formed by the body and is necessary for the respiration cycle of plants and animals. Carbonic Anhydride,Anhydride, Carbonic,Dioxide, Carbon
D003460 Crystallization The formation of crystalline substances from solutions or melts. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Crystalline Polymorphs,Polymorphism, Crystallization,Crystal Growth,Polymorphic Crystals,Crystal, Polymorphic,Crystalline Polymorph,Crystallization Polymorphism,Crystallization Polymorphisms,Crystals, Polymorphic,Growth, Crystal,Polymorph, Crystalline,Polymorphic Crystal,Polymorphisms, Crystallization,Polymorphs, Crystalline
D013213 Starch Any of a group of polysaccharides of the general formula (C6-H10-O5)n, composed of a long-chain polymer of glucose in the form of amylose and amylopectin. It is the chief storage form of energy reserve (carbohydrates) in plants. Amylomaize Starch,Amylum,Cornstarch,Keoflo,Starch, Amylomaize
D013696 Temperature The property of objects that determines the direction of heat flow when they are placed in direct thermal contact. The temperature is the energy of microscopic motions (vibrational and translational) of the particles of atoms. Temperatures
D019344 Lactic Acid A normal intermediate in the fermentation (oxidation, metabolism) of sugar. The concentrated form is used internally to prevent gastrointestinal fermentation. (From Stedman, 26th ed) Lactate,2-Hydroxypropanoic Acid,2-Hydroxypropionic Acid,Ammonium Lactate,D-Lactic Acid,L-Lactic Acid,Propanoic Acid, 2-Hydroxy-, (2R)-,Propanoic Acid, 2-Hydroxy-, (2S)-,Sarcolactic Acid,2 Hydroxypropanoic Acid,2 Hydroxypropionic Acid,D Lactic Acid,L Lactic Acid,Lactate, Ammonium

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