Aurélie Cayla

PLA with Intumescent System Containing Lignin and Ammonium Polyphosphate for Flame Retardant Textile

Using bio-based polymers to replace of polymers from petrochemicals in the manufacture of textile fibers is a possible way to improve sustainable development for the textile industry. Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the available bio-based polymers. One way to improve the fire behavior of this bio-based polymer is to add an intumescent formulation mainly composed of acid and carbon sources. In order to optimize the amount of bio-based product in the final material composition, lignin from wood waste was selected as the carbon source. Different formulations of and/or ammonium polyphosphate (AP) were prepared by melt extrusion and then hot-pressed into sheets. The thermal properties (thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) and fire properties (UL-94) were measured. The spinnability of the various composites was evaluated. The mechanical properties and physical aspect (microscopy) of PLA multifilaments with lignin (LK) were checked. A PLA multifilament with up to 10 wt % of intumescent formulation was processed, and the fire behavior of PLA fabrics with lignin/AP formulation was studied by cone calorimeter.

Electrical and mechanical properties of phenoxy/multiwalled carbon nanotubes multifilament yarn processed by melt spinning:

Nanocomposites based on Poly ((hydroxy ether) of bisphenol A) (Phenoxy) filled with multiwalled carbon nanotubes has been prepared by extrusion. Rheological behaviour and thermal degradation of these nanocomposites have been studied by melt flow index and thermogravimetric analysis. The results show that the addition of carbon nanotubes up to 2wt% increases the viscosity but does not modify significantly the spinnability of the compounds. Moreover, incorporation of these nanofillers allows an improvement of the thermal decomposition. In a second step, these nanocomposites have been processed by melt spinning to produce multifilament yarn. Transmission electron microscopy observations have been done to study carbon nanotubes dispersion and orientation. Nanocomposite morphology correlated with electrical measurements reveal an electrical percolation around 1.5 wt.% without decreasing significantly mechanical properties.

Influence of Rheological and Thermal Properties of Polymers During Melt Spinning on Bicomponent Fiber Morphology

Microfibers can be obtained by bicomponent spinning, followed by subsequent mechanical splitting. During process, two materials are coextruded in a die to form a unique complex morphology. Many factors affect these morphologies: melt viscosity and difference of crystallization temperature combined with polymers position. Consequently, fiber splitting can be improved by choosing an association of polymers with a stable interface and a poor adhesion. The aim of this study is to understand which intrinsic parameters of polymers allow to enhance bicomponent fibers splitting. Bicomponent fibers (side-by-side and sheath/core) have been made with two grades of polypropylene and polyamide 6. Instable interface happens when a low-viscosity polymer flows around and encapsulates a high-viscosity material. Possible mechanism responsible of interface deformation is variation of shear rates through the morphology (highest shear rate is at the fiber periphery). DMA analysis reveals that fiber with polyamide as core exceeds the strength of fiber with polyamide as sheath. This increase of strength can be attributed to a better adhesion than fibers with PA6 in sheath. From experimental results, the position combined with the difference crystallization temperature shows poor or strong interface.

Microstructure Evolution of Immiscible PP-PVA Blends Tuned by Polymer Ratio and Silica Nanoparticles

Composites of polypropylene (PP) and water soluble poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) can become an environmentally friendly precursor in preparing porous material, and their biphasic morphology needs to be manipulated. In this work, PP-PVA extrudates were prepared with a twin-screw extruder, and different PP/PVA ratios were employed to manipulate the morphology of the blends. Afterwards, different silicas were imbedded within the blends to further regulate the biphasic microstructure. PVA continuity, as a vital parameter in obtaining porous material, was determined by selective extraction measurement, and PP-PVA biphasic morphology was characterized by scanning microscopy analyses (SEM). Rheological measurement was also performed to correlate the microstructure evolution of the blends. First, it was found that with the increment of PVA proportion, PVA continuity is raised gradually, and the microstructure of blends containing 40–50 wt % of PVA is approaching co-continuous. Second, the localization of silicas was predicted based on the wettability of silica and polymers, and it was also confirmed by TEM that different silicas showed selective distribution. It is inspiring that R972 nanoparticles were found mainly distributed at the interface, which gives a possibility in preparing a surface-modified porous material. The shape distribution and average size of PVA nodules were examined by analyzing the SEM images. It is indicated that silicas with different wettabilities play disparate roles in tuning the biphasic microstructures, leading to heterogeneous PVA continuity.

Intumescent formulations based on lignin and phosphinates for the bio-based textiles

This study investigates new intumescent formulations based on lignin and phosphinates to improve the flame retardant properties of Polyamide 11, while preserving the bio-based characteristics of this latter. Lignin has the advantage of being a bio-based compound and can be effectively used as carbon source for the design of intumescent systems in combination with other flame retardant additives. Metal phosphinates belong to a novel class of phosphorus flame retardants. Despite their increasing use, there is lack of scientific understanding as far as their fire retardancy mechanism is considered, especially in char forming polymeric materials. In this context, Polyamide 11 was melt blended with lignin and metal phosphinates. The possibility of melt spinning the prepared blends were assessed through melt flow index (MFI) tests; thermogravimetric (TG) analyses and cone calorimetry tests were exploited for investigating the thermal stability and the combustion behaviour of the obtained products, respectively. MFI results indicate that some formulations are suitable for melt spinning processes to generate flame retardant multifilament. Furthermore, the combination of lignin and phosphinates provides charring properties to polyamide 11. Finally, cone calorimetry data confirmed that the designed intumescent formulations could remarkably reduce PHRR through formation of protective char layer, hence slowing down the combustion process.

Manufacturing of polylactic acid nanocomposite 3D printer filaments for smart textile applications

In this paper, manufacturing of polylactic acid nanocomposite 3D printer filaments was considered for smart textile applications. 3D printing process was applied as a novel process for deposition of nanocomposites on PLA fabrics to introduce more flexible, resourceefficient and cost effective textile functionalization processes than conventional printing process like screen and inkjet printing. The aim is to develop an integrated or tailored production process for smart and functional textiles which avoid unnecessary use of water, energy, chemicals and minimize the waste to improve ecological footprint and productivity.

Development of mono-component and tri-component fibres 100% polymer based piezoelectric PVDF to harvest energy

A first study focused on the realization of a 100% Polyvinylidene fluoride woven fabric. The multi-filaments produced by melt spinning and studied by FTIR, X-Ray and DSC, were optimized in the β-phase, 97%, thanks drawing ratio of λ=5, and the processing temperature, 90°C. When the polar β-phase achieves a certain level in PVDF, the woven material is poling with fields up to about 6kV. DMA tests coupled to a Keithley voltmeter allow the solicitation of PVDF fabrics. A variation of voltage is obtained in compression, with a maximum output voltage of up to 2,3V. The other part of the study explains premises of a tricomponent fibre development, PEHD/PVDF/PA12. Two layers of conductive polymers acting as electrodes are placed on either side of the PVDF layer. The interfacial adhesion between the three different layers is analysed by SEM. The maximum stretch on melt spinning was fixed at 2.5 and the β-phase of the PVDF measured by X-Ray.