SINTEPOL: Synthesis and modification of polymers through reactive extrusion

With the aim of guarantee sustainability within the plastics’ sector is crucial the development of new biopolymers together with new routes and efficient synthesis processes that allows the establishment within the sector. Besides, the reduction of biopolymers’ costs is necessary and also the improvement of their mechanical and thermal properties. The great challenge comes from reaching similar properties to traditional polymers with non-renewable origin with competitive costs.

In order to get that, within the Plan of Non-Economical Activities of AIMPLAS, co-financed by Fondos Feder and IVACE, the project SINTEPOL has been developed. The main objective of the project is the development of new synthesis routes and the modification of biopolymers in a unique phase through reactive extrusion, in order to establish the foundations of real and competitive production processes that make the transformation of biopolymers a reality to the market. In this regard, our aim is to increase the knowledge about reactive extrusion trough polycondensation reactions and also to increase the knowledge about the introduction of chemical modifications in biopolymers in order to try to improve the mechanical properties.
During 2014 we have worked to improve the plasticity and thermal resistance of biopolyesters.

The project has focused basically on the improvement of PLA plasticity through two ways; on one hand through the anchoring of plasticizers derived from fatty acids through reactive extrusion processes and on the other hand through the synthesis of new plasticizers of oligomeric nature in order to be completely compatible with the PLA.