Maria Chiara Mistretta

Effect of graphene nanoplatelets on the physical and antimicrobial properties of biopolymer-based nanocomposites

In this work, biopolymer-based nanocomposites with antimicrobial properties were prepared via melt-compounding. In particular, graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) as fillers and an antibiotic, i.e., ciprofloxacin (CFX), as biocide were incorporated in a commercial biodegradable polymer blend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a copolyester (BioFlex®). The prepared materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and rheological and mechanical measurements. Moreover, the effect of GnPs on the antimicrobial properties and release kinetics of CFX was evaluated. The results indicated that the incorporation of GnPs increased the stiffness of the biopolymeric matrix and allowed for the tuning of the release of CFX without hindering the antimicrobial activity of the obtained materials.

Characterization and Processability of Blends of Polylactide Acid with a New Biodegradable Medium-Chain-Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate

In this work the processability and the mechanical performance of polylactide acid (PLA) based blends with a sample of a new biodegradable medium-chain-length poly (hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) were investigated. The two polymers are incompatible with scarce adhesion and with the dispersed PHA particles size increasing with the PHA content. Rheological tests in shear flow indicate that adding PHA improves the processability of the matrix by increasing the content of this second component in the blend, as observed also for the torque curves, due to the very low viscosity of this new sample of PHA. The processability is only slightly worsened in non-isothermal elongational flow as the melt strength decreases, but accompanied by an increase of the melt stretchability that improves the ability of the pure PLA matrix to produce thin films. Mechanical properties put in evidence a brittle–ductile transition adding PHA to PLA matrix. The elongation at break significantly increases when PHA is added, while the elastic modulus is significantly reduced only at higher contents of PHA. This has been interpreted in terms of both plasticization action of the PHA and also in terms of lubricant action of the PHA macromolecules that allows a better sliding of the PLA macromolecules subjected to solid deformation.

A Facile and Eco-friendly Route to Fabricate Poly(Lactic Acid) Scaffolds with Graded Pore Size

Over the recent years, functionally graded scaffolds (FGS) gaineda crucial role for manufacturing of devices for tissue engineering. The importance of this new field of biomaterials research is due to the necessity to develop implants capable of mimicking the complex functionality of the various tissues, including a continuous change from one structure or composition to another. In this latter context, one topic of main interest concerns the design of appropriate scaffolds for bone-cartilage interface tissue. In this study, three-layered scaffolds with graded pore size were achieved by melt mixing poly(lactic acid) (PLA), sodium chloride (NaCl) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Pore size distributions were controlled by NaCl granulometry and PEG solvation. Scaffolds were characterized from a morphological and mechanical point of view. A correlation between the preparation method, the pore architecture and compressive mechanical behavior was found. The interface adhesion strength was quantitatively evaluated by using a custom-designed interfacial strength test. Furthermore, in order to imitate the human physiology, mechanical tests were also performed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution at 37 °C. The method herein presented provides a high control of porosity, pore size distribution and mechanical performance, thus offering the possibility to fabricate three-layered scaffolds with tailored properties by following a simple and eco-friendly route.

Mechanical, Thermomechanical and Reprocessing Behavior of Green Composites from Biodegradable Polymer and Wood Flour

The rising concerns in terms of environmental protection and the search for more versatile polymer-based materials have led to an increasing interest in the use of polymer composites filled with natural organic fillers (biodegradable and/or coming from renewable resources) as a replacement for traditional mineral inorganic fillers. At the same time, the recycling of polymers is still of fundamental importance in order to optimize the utilization of available resources, reducing the environmental impact related to the life cycle of polymer-based items. Green composites from biopolymer matrix and wood flour were prepared and the investigation focused on several issues, such as the effect of reprocessing on the matrix properties, wood flour loading effects on virgin and reprocessed biopolymer, and wood flour effects on material reprocessability. Tensile, Dynamic-mechanical thermal (DMTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and creep tests were performed, pointing out that wood flour leads to an improvement of rigidity and creep resistance in comparison to the pristine polymer, without compromising other properties such as the tensile strength. The biopolymer also showed a good resistance to multiple reprocessing; the latter even allowed for improving some properties of the obtained green composites.

Rheological Behavior Under Shear and Non-Isothermal Elongational Flow of Biodegradable Polymers for Foam Extrusion

The production of many items, in particular for food packaging applications, is based on foam extrusion and thermoforming. These operations require the use of polymers which can grant some specific rheological properties, both under shear and elongational flow. In this work, the behavior of some biodegradable polymers [Mater-Bi® and poly(lactic acid)] under shear and non-isothermal elongational flow was investigated and compared with a traditional, non-biodegradable polymer, in order to assess their suitability for industrial-scale foam extrusion and thermoforming. The rheological characterization evidenced the differences between the different biodegradable polymers and the reference polystyrene (PS), as well as the effect of humidity on their main rheological properties. This can be of great interest in helping to find an optimum solution in replacing PS for the production of food packaging items.

Effect of a Compatibilizer on the Morphology and Properties of Polypropylene/Polyethylentherephthalate Spun Fibers

Fibers spun by melt spinning of binary and ternary polypropylene/polyethylenetherephthalate blends have been produced and characterized in order to investigate the effect of a compatibilizer on their morphology and mechanical properties. The compatibilizer was a maleic anhydride-functionalized rubber copolymer. The effect of the compatibilizer was well evident in the isotropic state, as the morphology became very fine, the size of the dispersed particles was very small, and the adhesion was better. The effect of the compatibilizer on the mechanical properties is very relevant, especially in the elongation at break. On the contrary, no relevant effect was observed in the anisotropic oriented fibers. Although the average diameter of the microfibrils of the dispersed phase of the compatibilized blend generated during the hot drawing was much smaller than that of the microfibrils of the same particles of the uncompatibilized blend, the mechanical properties were almost the same. This behavior has been attributed to the length of the smaller microfibrils of the ternary blends, which was lower that of the microfibrils of the binary blend. This has been explained in terms of reduced initial droplet size, and therefore of lesser possibility of stretching the droplets to very long fibrils in these samples.

Biopolymer based nanocomposites reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets

In this work, biopolymer based nanocomposites filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) were prepared by melt compounding in a batch mixer. The polymer used as matrix was a commercial biodegradable polymer-blend of PLA and a copolyester (BioFlex®). The prepared materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), rheological and mechanical measurements. Moreover, the effect of the GnP amount on the investigated properties was evaluated. The results indicated that the incorporation of GnP increased the stiffness of the biopolymeric matrix.

Effect of Hot Drawing on the Mechanical Properties of Biodegradable Fibers

AbstractThe use of biodegradable polymers is increasingly attracting interest over the last years, since they can reduce the environmental effects related to disposal of traditional plastics and, in general, the use of fossil, non-renewable resources. One of the most promising applications is represented by fibers production. However, the orientation and the crystallinity degrees can significantly affect the mechanical properties. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate on the optimum processing conditions, in order to improve the mechanical properties. In particular, while crystallinity can be slightly modified by the processing, orientation can be significantly improved. In this work, the effects of hot stretching on the mechanical and structural properties of fibers made from two different families of biodegradable blends were investigated. The orientation proved to significantly change the mechanical properties, and it was shown that factors such as the different relaxation times, the different crystallization temperatures and the cooling rate can give opposite effects in the three investigated polymer systems with significant consequences on the mechanical behaviour of the fibers. In particular, the behaviour during fiber production in hot stretching, and the orientation mechanisms were studied and explained on the basis of rheological and thermal properties of the polymers.

Effect of Elongational Flow and Polarity of Organomodified Clay on Morphology and Mechanical Properties of a PLA Based Nanobiocomposite

Abstract In biodegradable polymer world nanobiocomposites represent a new group of materials filled with inert nanoparticles that shows very interesting properties and the biodegradability of the matrix. In this work we have studied the effect of the polarity of the organomodified montmorillonite and of the elongational flow on the morphology and the rheological and mechanical properties of a new nanobiocomposite with a matrix of biodegradable PLA based blend. The elastic modulus enhances in presence of the nanofiller and this increase is larger and larger with the increment of the orientation. The tensile strength does not show any significant change at the same level of orientation. Moreover, a brittle-to-ductile transition is observed in the anisotropic sample and this effect is again more evident for the nanocomposite. The raise of the interlayer distance is higher for the more polar montmorillonite, even if the two nanocomposites show about the same final interlayer distance and morphology. Some exfoliation is also observed as a result of the application of the elongational flow.

Rheological behaviour, filmability and mechanical properties of biodegradable polymer films

The rheological properties in shear flow and non isothermal elongational flow of two biodegradable polymers, belonging to two different classes of materials, have been measured and compared with those of a film blowing grade high density polyethylene in order to assess the filmability of these polymers. The mechanical properties of isotropic and anisotropic samples have been also reported.