Thermo-mechanical Degradation Research Articles

Assessing the circularity of post-consumer HDPE milk bottles through open-loop recycling and their environmental impact

Plastics are key in the packaging sector, but their widespread use contributes significantly to environmental challenges, such as the short life and high daily production of HDPE milk bottles. This study therefore aims to find a solution to this plastic waste, focusing on mechanical recycling. A comprehensive characterization of this post-consumer recycled HDPE reveals significant PP contamination, which poses a significant barrier due to polyolefin incompatibility, a common challenge in mixed plastics recycling. To mitigate this, blending with virgin HDPE and the use of various compatibilizers were investigated to improve the recyclability of the material. Several extrusion cycles were performed to analyse the thermo-mechanical degradation and to measure the performance and stability of the blends. The environmental impact of incorporating recycled HDPE into new bottles was also evaluated. Comparative evaluations with virgin bottles show that incorporating 25% or 50% recycled HDPE in the bottle yields carbon footprint reductions of 3% and 14%, respectively. These benefits could amplify with a wind-powered supply chain and a 100% recycled content. The findings lay the foundation for future plastic recycling scenarios, including dedicated sorting for this waste stream, providing a pathway to address the environmental impact of HDPE milk bottle disposal through recycling practices.

Towards effective recycling routes for polypropylene: Influence of a repair additive on flow characteristics and processability

Plastic recycling is a key aspect to achieve effective polymer circularity, especially for polyolefins for which usually the mechanical recycling is considered a downcycling process. This downcycling phenomenon arises from the progressive deterioration of the polymer microstructure during reprocessing, resulting in a gradual loss of processability and properties, ultimately compromising the possibility of using recycled polyolefins for applications with high engineering requirements.In this work, the effects of the thermomechanical degradation on the microstructure of polypropylene (PP) were assessed by subjecting the polymer to multiple extrusion cycles. The objective is investigating the evolution of the molecular weight and of the macromolecular architecture of PP typically occurring in a mechanical recycling process.Furthermore, a commercially available additive capable of restoring the PP molecular weight was introduced, with the purpose of proposing an effective upcycling strategy for achieving recycled PP with enhanced processability. In particular, the effects of the additive were evaluated following two different strategies that simulate pre-consumer or post-consumer mechanical recycling.The obtained results indicated that the introduction of the additive can effectively prevent the decrease of the molecular weight of reprocessed PP, also inducing some melt structuring phenomena associable with the introduction of some long chain branching and/or crosslinking. Finally, it was demonstrated that different macromolecular architectures for recycled PP can be achieved depending on the residence time during the processing in presence of the additive, opening new perspectives towards the possibility of obtaining recycled PP with modulable flow characteristics and, hence, processability.

Characterization of PLA feedstock after multiple recycling processes for large-format material extrusion additive manufacturing

Since the take-make-dispose model is leading to significant waste production and environmental impact, circular economy models have been spreading to reduce waste and resource depletion, rethinking the existing resource cycles. Plastic waste created environmental and economic concerns, requiring new recycling methods and strategies to preserve resources. This practice plays a key role in extrusion-based additive manufacturing, converting waste into recycled feedstock. Large-format additive manufacturing represents a promising way to scale up recycling strategies with granulated polymer feedstock, especially considering popular materials, i.e., PLA. However, thermomechanical degradation affects the quality of this secondary raw material, and these effects on large-format systems are scarcely studied. This work investigates the thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties of PLA feedstock for large-format additive manufacturing after multiple recycling processes, i.e., up to six. The effect of material degradation from multiple recycling processes was assessed through Gel Permeation Chromatography, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, flow stress ramp tests, tensile tests, and colorimetry. Some 3D printed parts were fabricated to assess the overall quality of the process, including pieces from potential applications. Lower effects of thermomechanical degradation were found compared to desktop-size 3D printers, mainly by cutting the reprocessing steps to produce secondary raw materials, i.e., making new filaments. Recycled granulate PLA feedstocks represent a potential alternative to virgin pellets for new applications in real-world contexts.[copyright information to be updated in production process].

Manufacturing and characterization of sustainable and recyclable wood-polypropylene biocomposites: Multiprocessing-properties-structure relationships

In this study, sustainable polymeric materials with a polypropylene matrix reinforced with wood waste were developed for structural applications. The new polymer biocomposites (WPCs) were evaluated for their mechanical and structural properties regarding their susceptibility to multiple processing. As thermo-mechanical degradation processes are associated with the repeated processing of plastics, which causes changes in the properties and structure of these materials. Therefore, to determine the extent to which the composites can be used under operating conditions, the composites were examined by DMA. As a result of the study observed some effects caused by the repeated effects of shear stress and temperature on the rheological and mechanical properties of polymer composites. The first of these is related to a decrease in viscosity of WPC composites subjected to the six times processing and changes in flow conditions during extrusion and injection moulding due to the degradation of the polypropylene matrix. As the viscosity of the composites decreased, a reduction in tensile strength and other mechanical properties of the polypropylene matrix was noted. On the other hand, the second effect observed leads to the conclusion that, as the composites' processing cycles increase, the WPC composite's mechanical properties increase due to an increase in the degree of homogenization of the individual components of the WPC composition. This study aims to describe the relationship between these two primary processes and to determine the relationship between the properties and the structure of the new WPCs.

Degradation of Polymers and the Improvements of Polybutylene Terephthalate /Polyethylene Glycol Terephthalate Composite-material

Polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene glycol terephthalate are subjected to thermal-oxidative degradation and thermomechanical degradation during the process of melt blending, which affect the polymer structure and properties. The effect of feed properties of polyethylene glycol terephthalate and the addition of modified nanoparticles on blends are a question worthy of discussion. This paper introduced the latest development of biodegradable plastics industry as well as the applications of biodegradable plastics in fibers, daily expenses of membranes and bags, agricultural products and automobile industrial products. These biodegradable plastics included poly (lactic acid), polyhydroxyalknoates, poly (butyl enes adipatecoterephthalate), and poly (propylene carbonate). In addition to biochemical effects, degradation also has biophysical effects, that is, after microorganisms erode the polymer, the polymer material is mechanically damaged due to the increase of cells. Therefore, biodegradation is not a single mechanism, but a compomise biophysical and biochemical synergy and mutual promotion of physical and chemical processes. So far, the mechanism of biodegradation has not been fully elucidated. This paper focuses on explaining the currently clear polymer degradation mechanism and the improvement in composition and structure, so as to offer some references for future studies.

On the Production of Poly(Lactic Acid) (PLA) Compounds with Metallic Stearates Based on Zinc, Magnesium and Cobalt. Investigation of Torque Rheometry and Thermal Properties

The addition effects of zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), and magnesium (Mg) based metallic stearates into poly (lactic acid) (PLA) matrix were investigated through torque rheometry, thermogravimetry (TG) and in the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). PLA compounds/metallic stearates were processed using an internal laboratory mixer with 0.25 wt% Zn, Co, and Mg. Torque rheometry results indicated that PLA/stearate compounds showed higher thermomechanical degradation during processing related to PLA. PLA viscosity is reduced upon stearates addition, especially in the compound with Zn. This behavior suggested PLA chain scission in the presence of metallic stearates during processing, corroborating the decrease in the torque plots. PLA/Zn started to lose weight at lower temperatures than the other compounds, indicating higher pro-oxidant potential. It was observed that Co and Zn significantly reduced the glass transition temperature (Tg), as well as PLA’s crystalline parameters, which suggests PLA’s molecular scission during processing, heading to greater flexibility and reducing Tg. Zn stearate was the most aggressive to PLA’s thermomechanical degradation, suggesting a stronger pro-degradant effect.

Effect of the multiple injection process on the structural and mechanical properties of PP impact copolymers focusing on the deformation of ethylene-propylene copolymer

The influence of multiple injection on the structural and mechanical properties of PP impact copolymers (ICP) has been investigated, mainly focusing on the deformation of dispersed ethylene-propylene copolymer (EPC) particles in ICPs. Various properties of recycled ICPs throughout repetitive injection processes have been compared. The thermo-mechanical degradation by heat and shear stress imposed on ICPs several times via multiple injection triggered chemical changes, such as the generation of CC and CO bonds and chain scission in ICPs. These changes alter the crystallinity of the ICPs by shortening the chain length and narrowing the molecular weight distribution. To determine the effect of multiple injection on the deformation of EPC particles, the intrinsic viscosities (IV) of the polypropylene (PP) matrix and dispersed EPC were measured. Degradation by multiple injection was greater for PP than for EPC, thereby increasing the viscosity ratio (IVEPC/IVPP). At a high viscosity ratio, the PP matrix could not effectively transfer shear stress to the dispersed EPC particles, causing the EPC particles to agglomerate and become larger with poor dispersity. Regarding the mechanical properties, the agglomeration of EPC exerted a significant negative effect on the Izod impact strength. Finally, numerical calculations in the injection mold flow region confirmed that the re-injected product required a higher shear stress than the virgin product.

Thermo-Mechanical Recyclability of Additively Manufactured Polypropylene and Polylactic Acid Parts and Polypropylene Support Structures.

Polymers have a reputation for several advantageous characteristics like chemical resistance, weight reduction, and simple form-giving processes. The rise of additive manufacturing technologies such as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) has introduced an even more versatile production process that supported new product design and material concepts. This led to new investigations and innovations driven by the individualization of customized products. The other side of the coin contains an increasing resource and energy consumption satisfying the growing demand for polymer products. This turns into a magnitude of waste accumulation and increased resource consumption. Therefore, appropriate product and material design, taking into account end-of-life scenarios, is essential to limit or even close the loop of economically driven product systems. In this paper, a comparison of virgin and recycled biodegradable (polylactic acid (PLA)) and petroleum-based (polypropylene (PP) & support) filaments for extrusion-based Additive Manufacturing is presented. For the first time, the thermo-mechanical recycling setup contained a service-life simulation, shredding, and extrusion. Specimens and complex geometries with support materials were manufactured with both, virgin and recycled materials. An empirical assessment was executed through mechanical (ISO 527), rheological (ISO 1133), morphological, and dimensional testing. Furthermore, the surface properties of the PLA and PP printed parts were analyzed. In summary, PP parts and parts from its support structure showed, in consideration of all parameters, suitable recyclability with a marginal parameter variance in comparison to the virgin material. The PLA components showed an acceptable decline in the mechanical values but through thermo-mechanical degradation processes, rheological and dimensional properties of the filament dropped decently. This results in significantly identifiable artifacts of the product optics, based on an increase in surface roughness.

Comparison of the Recycling Behavior of a Polypropylene Sample Aged in Air and in Marine Water.

During the processing and during their lifetime, polymers are subjected to several environmental stresses-thermomechanical, photo-oxidative, etc.-that can strongly modify their chemical and molecular structure and, consequently, their morphology. Reduction of the molecular weight and formation of double bonds and oxygenated groups are the main changes observed as a consequence of the degradation. As a result of these changes, the macroscopic properties are dramatically modified. These changes can have a relevant effect if the post-consumer plastic manufacts are recycled. In this work, a sample of polypropylene subjected to two different degradation histories-photo-oxidation in air and in marine water-is reprocessed two times in a mini twin-screw extruder in the same processing conditions. The effect of the thermomechanical degradation during the reprocessing is different. Indeed, the less severe degraded sample shows a higher degradation level during reprocessing because the shear stress is larger. This means that the thermomechanical degradation kinetics is larger in the less degraded samples. Nevertheless, the final properties of the recycled polymers are different because the properties of the photo-oxidized samples before reprocessing were very different.

Simulations mapping the influence of oxygen, extruder residence time, and mechanical shear on low-density polyethylene structure during recycling

We present a computational study of the development of structural properties for recycled low-density polyethylene (LDPE). First, we apply the population balance method together with the method of moments to study the mutual influences of scission and crosslinking reactions. Then, we study the combined effects of extruder residence time and oxygen concentration as the initiator of thermo-mechanical degradation in the recycling process of LDPE in a twin-screw extruder. Further, we extend the models to study the influence of mechanical scission. We explore various case study scenarios to incorporate the effect of extruder residence time and mechanical shear. It is concluded that the competition between random scission and crosslinking, as well as the presence of oxygen, play important roles in the degradation of LDPE during recycling. Random scission is a key factor in terms of altering molecular weight distribution (MWD) during a recycling extrusion process. The various explored scenarios with mechanical scission demonstrate the sensitivity of molecular structure to the combination of competing mechanisms during recycling.

Insights into the Supramolecular Structure and Degradation Mechanisms of Starch from Different Botanical Sources as Affected by Extrusion-based 3D Printing.

Extrusion-based 3D printing has emerged as the most versatile additive manufacturing technique for the printing of practically any material. However, 3D printing of functional materials often activates thermo-mechanical degradation, which affects the 3D shape quality. Herein, we describe the structural changes of eight different starch sources (normal or waxy) as a consequence of the temperature of an extrusion-based 3D printing system through in-depth characterization of their molecular and structural changes. The combination of size-exclusion chromatography, small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray diffraction, dynamic viscoelasticity measurements, and in vitro digestion has offered an extensive picture of the structural and biological transformations of starch varieties. Depending on the 3D printing conditions, either gelatinization was attained ("moderate" condition) or single-amylose helix formation was induced ("extreme" condition). The stiff amylopectin crystallites in starch granules were more susceptible to thermo-mechanical degradation compared to flexible amorphous amylose. The crystalline morphology of the starch varieties varied from B-type crystallinity for the starch 3D printing at the "moderate" condition to a mixture of C- and V-type crystallinity regarding the "extreme" condition. The "extreme" condition reduced the viscoelasticity of 3D-printed starches but increased the starch digestibility rate/extent. In contrast, the "moderate" condition increased the viscoelastic moduli, decreasing the starch digestion rate/extent. This was more considerable mainly regarding the waxy starch varieties. Finally, normal starch varieties presented a well-defined shape fidelity, being able to form a stable structure, whereas waxy starches exhibited a non-well-defined structure and were not able to maintain their integrity after printing. The results of this research allow us to monitor the degradability of a variety of starch cultivars to create starch-based 3D structures, in which the local structure can be controlled based on the 3D printing parameters.

The Effect of Various Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes on Viscoelastic, Thermal Properties and Crystallization of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Nanocomposites

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane POSS nanoparticles can be applied as reinforcing additives modifying various properties of biodegradable polymers. The effects of aminopropylisobutyl POSS (amine-POSS), trisilanolisooctyl-POSS (HO-POSS) and glycidyl-POSS (Gly-POSS) on the viscoelastic, thermal properties and crystallization of biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone) PCL were studied. The analysis of the viscoelastic properties at ambient temperature indicated that aminopropylisobutyl POSS (amine-POSS) and glycidyl-POSS (Gly-POSS) enhanced the dynamic mechanical properties of PCL. The increase in the storage shear modulus G' and loss modulus G″ was observed. The plasticizing effect of trisilanolisooctyl POSS (HO-POSS) due to the presence of long isoctyl groups was confirmed. As a result, the crystallization of PCL was facilitated and the degree of crystallinity of χc increased up to 50.9%. The damping properties and the values of tan δ for PCL/HO-POSS composition increased from 0.052 to 0.069. The TGA results point out the worsening of the PCL thermal stability, with lower values of T0.5%, T1% and T3%. Both HO-POSS and Gly-POSS facilitated the relaxation of molten PCL. The presence of Gly-POSS influenced the changes that occurred in the viscoelastic properties of the molten PCL due to the thermo-mechanical degradation of the material; a positive impact was observed.

Recycled Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) as Food Packaging: Effect of Multiple Melt Processing on Packaging Performance and Food Contact Suitability

This study examines the opportunity of using recycled poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) as food packaging. The recyclability was evaluated by assessing the effect of repeated polymer processing (up to four extrusion cycles) on the structural and barrier properties of the material, as well as its ability to produce neo-formed chemicals susceptible to migrate into food. It was shown that increasing the number of processing cycles results in a decrease of the polymer molecular weight, leading to a decrease of mechanical properties, balanced by a maintenance of the crystalline structure and of the thermal stability. The oxygen and water vapour transfer properties were also maintained after four cycles suggesting that r-PHBV-based packaging can retain its property and use panel. The specific migration of crotonic acid, one of the main products of the thermomechanical degradation of the PHBV was measured in three different food simulants. In all cases, it did not exceed the specific migration limit (SML) set at 0.05 mg/Kg food, revealing the food contact suitability of non-contaminated recycled PHBV under test conditions.

Impact of grease churning on grease leakage, oil bleeding and grease rheology

Grease performance is strongly determined by the properties and quantity of the grease after the churning phase in which grease reservoirs are formed. During this churning phase, macroscopic flow takes place, leading to drag forces dissipating energy in the grease, generating heat and causing thermo-mechanical degradation. The impact of grease churning on grease properties such as oil bleed, leakage and rheology was studied using bearing experiments and a roll stability tester. Grease leakage increased whereas oil bleeding capacity and tackiness decreased with increased churning intensity, measured as temperature-corrected energy density.

Thermomechanical Degradation of Polypropylene – Polystyrene Blends During Extrusion‐Based Melt Blending – A First Survey of Shear‐Induced Molecular Architecture Changes

AbstractPolymer blends made of plastic waste and manufactured by extrusion‐based melt blending are of particular importance for mechanical recycling in the context of tailoring material properties for value‐added applications. For both, property tailoring and for suppressing downcycling, it is inevitable to understand the thermomechanical degradation behavior of the blends, induced by melt‐blending. In this investigation, the thermomechanical degradation of polypropylene (PP) – polystyrene (PS) blends are analyzed for different blend compositions based on cross‐fractionation chromatography. This method allows for the first time to separate PP from PS with simultaneously analyzing the change in the molecular architecture distribution due to thermomechanical degradation. It is revealed that the melt‐blending induced degradation effect is primarily occurring in PP, where besides a reduction of chain length, significant chain irregularities are generated. It is observed that PP degradation is increasing with a growing proportion of PS. These new findings offer the first insights into the thermomechanical degradation of PP/PS blends.

Reprocessed magnetorheological elastomers with reduced carbon footprint and their piezoresistive properties

Despite the vast amount of studies based on magnetorheological elastomers (MREs), a very limited number of investigations have been initiated on their reprocessing. This paper presents a new type of recyclable MRE which is composed of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and carbonyl iron particles (CI). The chosen TPU can be processed using injection moulding (IM), followed by several reprocessing cycles while preserving its properties. Numerous types of injection moulded and reprocessed MREs have been prepared for various particle concentrations. The effect of thermo-mechanical degradation on the recycled MREs has been investigated while simulating the reprocessing procedure. An apparent decrease in molecular weight was observed for all the examined matrices during the reprocessing cycles. These changes are attributed to the intermolecular bonding between the hydroxyl groups on the surface of the CI particles and the matrix which is studied in depth. The effect of reprocessing and the presence of magnetic particles is evaluated via tensile test, magnetorheology and piezoresistivity. These characterization techniques prove that the properties of our MREs are preserved at an acceptable level despite using 100% of recyclates while in real applications only up to 30% of recycled material is generally used.

Green composites of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) and sugarcane bagasse fibers plasticized with triethyl citrate: Thermal, mechanical and morphological properties

In this work, PHBV composites were prepared by melting extrusion using triethyl citrate (TEC) as a biodegradable plasticizer and sugarcane bagasse fibers (SBF) as reinforcement. The plasticizer TEC played a crucial role in the preparation of the formulations by extrusion, reducing the viscosity of the melt and minimizing the thermomechanical degradation of PHBV. Moreover, TEC was an efficient plasticizer for the composites, reducing the glass transition and melting temperatures of PHBV and making the specimens ductile. The increase in the concentration of TEC led to an enlargement of the interlamellar spacing and larger PHBV spherulites without changing the cell parameters. In contrast, the introduction of the SBF elevated the viscosity of the molten during extrusion, leading to thermomechanical degradation of PHBV. The SBF acted as a nucleation agent for the PHBV crystallization and oriented the growth of the PHBV crystals due to the transcrystallization, which contributed to the matrix-filler adhesion, the increase in the lamellae thickness, and changes in the thermal properties of PHBV. The SBF acted as a reinforcing agent, increasing the tensile properties of the matrix. Therefore, TEC and SBF had antagonistic effects on the properties of the formulations, opening opportunities to tune their properties by varying the composition.

Data-Driven Modelling of Polyethylene Recycling under High-Temperature Extrusion.

Two main problems are studied in this article. The first one is the use of the extrusion process for controlled thermo-mechanical degradation of polyethylene for recycling applications. The second is the data-based modelling of such reactive extrusion processes. Polyethylenes (high density polyethylene (HDPE) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)) were extruded in a corotating twin-screw extruder under high temperatures (350 °C < T < 420 °C) for various process conditions (flow rate and screw rotation speed). These process conditions involved a decrease in the molecular weight due to degradation reactions. A numerical method based on the Carreau-Yasuda model was developed to predict the rheological behaviour (variation of the viscosity versus shear rate) from the in-line measurement of the die pressure. The results were successfully compared to the viscosity measured from offline measurement assuming the Cox-Merz law. Weight average molecular weights were estimated from the resulting zero-shear rate viscosity. Furthermore, the linear viscoelastic behaviours (Frequency dependence of the complex shear modulus) were also used to predict the molecular weight distributions of final products by an inverse rheological method. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) was performed on five samples, and the resulting molecular weight distributions were compared to the values obtained with the two aforementioned techniques. The values of weight average molecular weights were similar for the three techniques. The complete molecular weight distributions obtained by inverse rheology were similar to the SEC ones for extruded HDPE samples, but some inaccuracies were observed for extruded UHMWPE samples. The Ludovic® (SC-Consultants, Saint-Etienne, France) corotating twin-screw extrusion simulation software was used as a classical process simulation. However, as the rheo-kinetic laws of this process were unknown, the software could not predict all the flow characteristics successfully. Finally, machine learning techniques, able to operate in the low-data limit, were tested to build predicting models of the process outputs and material characteristics. Support Vector Machine Regression (SVR) and sparsed Proper Generalized Decomposition (sPGD) techniques were chosen to predict the process outputs successfully. These methods were also applied to material characteristics data, and both were found to be effective in predicting molecular weights. More precisely, the sPGD gave better results than the SVR for the zero-shear viscosity prediction. Stochastic methods were also tested on some of the data and showed promising results.

Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics and rheological behaviors of PBT/PET blends: effects of PET property and nano-silica content

ABSTRACT PBT and PET are subjected to thermal-oxidative degradation and thermomechanical degradation during the process of melt blending, which affect the polymer structure and properties. The effect of feed properties of PET and the addition of modified nanoparticles on blends are a question worthy of discussion. This work describes the melting and thermal stability, the crystallization behavior and non-isothermal crystallization kinetic, the rheological behaviors and mechanical properties of several PBT/PET blends prepared by twin-screw melt extrusion. Results show that the molecular chain of the polyester blends obtained by stable extrusion are not significantly degraded, there is only one obvious melting peak and crystallization peak on the thermal analysis curves, and the melting point is lower than either of the two polyesters. An appropriate amount of SD can effectively reduce the crystallization rate of the PBT material and extend the crystallization time. The rheological behavior of PBT/PET blends is complicated than PET raw materials and SD, as well as the melt processing temperature and shear rate will all affect the rheological behavior of the blends. For example, at low shear rate, polyester blends with SD exhibit strong shear thinning behavior. In general, the SD content affects the rheological property of blends in a way similar to the law of influence on crystallization behavior. When SD content is 0.3 wt%, a polyester product with higher elongation at break than pure PBT can be obtained. This can provide a useful reference for preparing commercialized polyester blend products with good melt processability and elongation by simple blending.

Biodegradable Thermoplastic Starch/Polycaprolactone Blends with Co-Continuous Morphology Suitable for Local Release of Antibiotics.

We report a reproducible preparation and characterization of highly homogeneous thermoplastic starch/pol(ε-caprolactone) blends (TPS/PCL) with a minimal thermomechanical degradation and co-continuous morphology. These materials would be suitable for biomedical applications, specifically for the local release of antibiotics (ATB) from the TPS phase. The TPS/PCL blends were prepared in the whole concentration range. In agreement with theoretical predictions based on component viscosities, the co-continuous morphology was found for TPS/PCL blends with a composition of 70/30 wt.%. The minimal thermomechanical degradation of the blends was achieved by an optimization of the processing conditions and by keeping processing temperatures as low as possible, because higher temperatures might damage ATB in the final application. The blends’ homogeneity was verified by scanning electron microscopy. The co-continuous morphology was confirmed by submicron-computed tomography. The mechanical performance of the blends was characterized in both microscale (by an instrumented microindentation hardness testing; MHI) and macroscale (by dynamic thermomechanical analysis; DMTA). The elastic moduli of TPS increased ca four times in the TPS/PCL (70/30) blend. The correlations between elastic moduli measured by MHI and DMTA were very strong, which implied that, in the future studies, it would be possible to use just micromechanical testing that does not require large specimens.