| Title: | Compatibilization of polylactide/poly(ethylene 2,5-furanoate) (PLA/PEF) blends for sustainable and bioderived packaging |
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| Authors: | ID Fredi, Giulia (Author)
ID Dorigato, Andrea (Author)
ID Dussin, Alessandro (Author)
ID Xanthopoulou, Eleftheria (Author)
ID Bikiaris, Dimitrios (Author)
ID Botta, Luigi (Author)
ID Fiore, Vincenzo (Author)
ID Pegoretti, Alessandro (Author) |
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| Files: |  molecules-27-06371-v2.pdf (4,33 MB)
MD5: B5077D9A4C6C45ECE796F92EA3495CC4
 https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/19/6371
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Article |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: | FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
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| Abstract: | Despite the advantages of polylactide (PLA), its inadequate UV-shielding and gas-barrier
properties undermine its wide application as a flexible packaging film for perishable items. These
issues are addressed in this work by investigating the properties of melt-mixed, fully bioderived
blends of polylactide (PLA) and poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), as a function of the PEF weight
fraction (1–30 wt %) and the amount of the commercial compatibilizer/chain extender Joncryl ADR
4468 (J, 0.25–1 phr). J mitigates the immiscibility of the two polymer phases by decreasing and
homogenizing the PEF domain size; for the blend containing 10 wt % of PEF, the PEF domain size
drops from 0.67 ± 0.46 µm of the uncompatibilized blend to 0.26 ± 0.14 with 1 phr of J. Moreover,
the increase in the complex viscosity of PLA and PLA/PEF blends with the J content evidences
the effectiveness of J as a chain extender. This dual positive contribution of J is reflected in the
mechanical properties of PLA/PEF blends. Whereas the uncompatibilized blend with 10 wt % of
PEF shows lower mechanical performance than neat PLA, all the compatibilized blends show higher
tensile strength and strain at break, while retaining their high elastic moduli. The effects of PEF
on the UV- and oxygen-barrier properties of PLA are also remarkable. Adding only 1 wt % of PEF
makes the blend an excellent barrier for UV rays, with the transmittance at 320 nm dropping from
52.8% of neat PLA to 0.4% of the sample with 1 wt % PEF, while keeping good transparency in the
visible region. PEF is also responsible for a sensible decrease in the oxygen transmission rate, which
decreases from 189 cc/m2
·day for neat PLA to 144 cc/m2
·day with only 1 wt % of PEF. This work
emphasizes the synergistic effects of PEF and J in enhancing the thermal, mechanical, UV-shielding,
and gas-barrier properties of PLA, which results in bioderived blends that are very promising for
packaging applications. |
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| Keywords: | polylactide, furanoates, poly(ethylene furanoate), blends, compatibilization, gas-permeability, UV-shielding |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 31.08.2022 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 23.09.2022 |
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| Publication date: | 27.09.2022 |
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| Publisher: | MDPI AG |
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| Year of publishing: | 2022 |
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| Number of pages: | 22 str. |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 27, iss. 19, [article no.] 6371 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DKUM-92244  |
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| UDC: | 60 |
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| ISSN on article: | 1420-3049 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 144909059 |
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| DOI: | 10.3390/molecules27196371 |
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| Copyright: | © 2022 by the authors |
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| Publication date in DKUM: | 24.03.2025 |
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| Views: | 145 |
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| Downloads: | 10 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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| Categories: | Misc.
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