Development and characterization of PLA/TPU polymer blends

• Grant number: 17/06909-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2017
• End date: June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Juliano Marini
• Grantee: Mateus Garcia Rodolfo
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In recent years, the development of biodegradable polymer materials and/or obtained from renewable sources has become a major focus of research in the packaging and biomedical areas. In this context, it has to be highlighted the use of poly(lactic acid), PLA, a biodegradable and biocompatible thermoplastic obtained from renewable sources and with similar properties when compared with petroleum-based polymers. One of the main disadvantages of this polymer is its inherent brittleness. Its toughening can be accomplished through the inclusion of elastomers or thermoplastic elastomers, obtaining polymer blends. Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are excellent candidates for toughening agents in PLA blends as they exhibit a combination of high elasticity and ductility with biocompatibility and biodegradability. This research project proposes to develop toughened PLA/TPU blends with different contents of the constituent materials by melt mixing. The methodology includes the characterization of the thermal, rheological and mechanical behaviors and the morphology of the obtained blends. The results will be evaluated and correlated in terms of structure, properties and processing. (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)

RODOLFO, MATEUS GARCIA; COSTA, LIDIANE CRISTINA; MARINI, JULIANO. oughened poly(lactic acid)/thermoplastic polyurethane uncompatibilized blend. JOURNAL OF POLYMER ENGINEERING, v. 42, n. 3, JAN 2022. (17/06909-1)