Reduction of environmental impact generated by radiation-cured print inks on post-consuming biodegradable plastic packaging

• Grant number: 10/02631-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2011
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Nuclear Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Luci Diva Brocardo Machado
• Grantee: Luci Diva Brocardo Machado
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Claudia Giovedi ; Derval dos Santos Rosa ; Isolda Costa

Abstract

The search for environmentally friend materials is becoming the major focus of research at the twenty-first century, considering the high level of pollution generated by the inadequate disposal of materials, especially polymers, in the environment. In addition, environmental legislation already in course in many countries limits the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the atmosphere, affecting mainly the paint manufacturers who are seeking for alternatives by replacing the paint solvent for those with high solids. Thus, the technology of curing polymer coatings by radiation is based on the interaction of the chemical system to the ultraviolet (UV) or electron beam (EB) incident radiation, forming reactive species capable of inducing the polymerization reactions and crosslinking, resulting in formation of the cured product. In this technology, the solvents used to reduce the viscosity of the formulations are replaced with reactive monomers that remain in the cured product, providing no VOC, and the film formation occurs at room temperature. However, the cured products are insoluble and infusible, increasing the degree of complexity for reprocessing, recycling and / or (bio) degradation. Thus, this project aims to evaluate coating films cured by UV / EB and its mixtures with pro-degrading agents, on a polymer substrate by means of its thermal, mechanical, rheological and morphological characteristics. It is also intended to evaluate the degradability by changes in properties during the natural weathering and QUV accelerated aging, and biodegradation in simulated soil. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GONCALVES BARDI, MARCELO AUGUSTO; LEITE MUNHOZ, MARA DE MELLO; DE OLIVEIRA, HENRIQUE ALVES; AURAS, RAFAEL; BROCARDO MACHADO, LUCI DIVA. Behavior of UV-Cured Print Inks on LDPE and PBAT/TPS Blend Substrates During Curing, Postcuring, and Accelerated Degradation. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, v. 131, n. 22, NOV 15 2014. (10/02631-0)

GONCALVES BARDI, MARCELO AUGUSTO; LEITE MUNHOZ, MARA DE MELLO; DE OLIVEIRA, HENRIQUE ALVES; AURAS, RAFAEL; BROCARDO MACHADO, LUCI DIVA. Behavior of UV-Cured Print Inks on LDPE and PBAT/TPS Blend Substrates During Curing, Postcuring, and Accelerated Degradation. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, v. 131, n. 22, p. 8-pg., 2014-11-15. (10/02631-0)

BARDI, MARCELO A. G.; MUNHOZ, MARA M. L.; AURAS, RAFAEL A.; MACHADO, LUCI D. B.. Assessment of UV exposure and aerobic biodegradation of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/starch blend films coated with radiation-curable print inks containing degradation-promoting additives. INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS, v. 60, p. 326-334, SEP 2014. (10/02631-0)