Abstract
This paper presents a characterization of a plastic extrusion process and the selected properties of three biodegradable plastic types, in comparison with LDPE (low-density polyethylene). The four plastics include: LDPE, commercial name Malen E FABS 23-D022; potato starch based plastic (TPS-P), BIOPLAST GF 106/02; corn starch based plastic (TPS-C), BioComp®BF 01HP; and a polylactic acid (polylactide) plastic (PLA), BioComp®BF 7210. Plastic films with determined geometric parameters (thickness of the foil layer and width of the flattened foil sleeve) were produced from these materials (at individually defined processing temperatures), using blown film extrusion, by applying different extrusion screw speeds. The produced plastic films were tested to determine the geometrical features, MFR (melt flow rate), blow-up ratio, draw down ratio, mass flow rate, and exit velocity. The tests were complemented by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and chemical structure analysis. It was found that the biodegradable films were extruded at higher rate and mass flow rate than LDPE; the lowest thermal stability was ascertained for the film samples extruded from TPS-C and TPS-P, and that all tested biodegradable plastics contained polyethylene.
Highlights
The rapid increase in demand for inexpensive materials has caused an increased consumption and production of polymers to hundreds of millions of tons per annum
The aim of the extensive research, conducted by the authors of this work, was to provide a process-wise and utility-wise comparison of plastic films produced from a traditional petroleum-based plastic, or LDPE, and from biodegradable, compostable polymers based on starch derived from renewable material sources, with a determination of feasibility of each polymer material considered here for applications in the packaging industry
The blown film extrusion was performed with four different materials: LDPE, commercial name Malen E FABS 23-D022; potato starch based plastic (TPS-P), BIOPLAST GF 106/02; corn starch based plastic (TPS-C), BioComp® BF 01HP; and a polylactic acid plastic (PLA), BioComp® BF 7210
Summary
The rapid increase in demand for inexpensive materials has caused an increased consumption and production of polymers to hundreds of millions of tons per annum. The packaging industry is currently dominated by applications of many different polyethylene types due to the low costs of the material, a wide range of processing parameters, good mechanical properties, and relatively good thermal and chemical resistance [2,3]. The major hindrance to mass application of biopolymers is often a complex and stringent process of sourcing and processing, resulting in end product prices much higher than for petroleum-derived plastics [12]. The aim of the extensive research, conducted by the authors of this work, was to provide a process-wise and utility-wise comparison of plastic films produced from a traditional petroleum-based plastic, or LDPE, and from biodegradable, compostable polymers based on starch derived from renewable material sources, with a determination of feasibility of each polymer material considered here for applications in the packaging industry. In the work (being a continuation of these studies), the mechanical, optical, barrier and microscopic properties of the obtained films will be characterized
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