PLAPACK
Development of biodegradable and transparent plastics from PLA compounds with high impact resistance and low migration
Objectives
The objective of this project is the development of new biopolymers based on poly(lactic acid) PLA, with higher properties than standard market grades, mainly in terms of impact resistance properties, maintaining their transparency, temperature resistance and processability.
Description
The use of impact enhancer additives reduces temperature resistance, so different organic and inorganic nucleating agents have been developed:
1) Low molecular weight oligomers of lactic acid (OLAs) act as process enhancers and improve the flexibility of PLA for applications where low temperature is required.
2) Monomers based on D-LA isomers that act as organic nucleating agents and have high compatibility with PLA increasing their rate of crystallisation and improving the heat resistance of PLA plasticised formulations.
3) Study of inorganic nucleating-based modified and functionalised nanoclay which increases thermal resistance.
The main market for this project is food packaging and beverage glasses stored or consumed at low temperatures, and hangers, which need to have resistance to low and medium temperature, high stiffness and low migration so as not to stain the clothes hung on them.
Funding
