The Effect of Masterbatch Addition on the Mechanical, Thermal, Optical and Surface Properties of Poly(lactic acid)

There has been considerable interest in the use of the biodegradable polymer poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as a replacement for petroleum derived polymers due to ease of processability and its high mechanical strength. Other material properties have however limited its wider application. These include its brittle properties, low impact strength and yellow tint. In an attempt to overcome these drawbacks, PLA was blended with four commercially available additives, commonly known as masterbatches. The effect of the addition of 1.5 wt% of the four masterbatches on the mechanical, thermal, optical and surface properties of the polymer was evaluated. All four masterbatches had a slight negative effect on the tensile strength of PLA (3–5% reduction). There was a four fold increase in impact resistance however with the addition of one of the masterbatches. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated that this increase corresponded to a decrease in the polymer crystallinity. However there was an associated increase in polymer haze with the addition of this masterbatch. The clarity of PLA was improved through the addition of an optical brightener masterbatch, but the impact resistance remained low. The glass transition and melting temperatures of PLA were not affected by the addition of the masterbatches, and no change was observed in surface energy. Some delay in PLA degradation, in a PBS degradation medium at 50 °C, was observed due to blending with these masterbatches.     

卤代苯对湛江叉鞭金藻联合毒性的QSAR研究

测定了以卤代苯为代表的非极性麻醉型混合有机化合物对湛江叉鞭金藻(Dicrateria zhanjiangensis)的联合毒性效应,探讨了混合正辛醇/水分配系数(Kowmix)的理论计算模型用于表征藻类联合毒性的可行性,并提出了以卤代苯为代表的非极性麻醉型有机化合物对藻类联合毒性的QSAR模型。结果表明,采用QSAR模型:log1/EC50M=0.723logKowmix+0.740(n=48,r 2=0.860,SE=0.134,F=283.054,P<0.001)定量描述以卤代苯为代表的非极性麻醉型混合有机化合物对湛江叉鞭金藻的联合毒性,模型具有较高的预测能力。     

部分取代苯类在江水中的生物降解与结构相关性研究

测定了２７种取代苯类化合物在松花江江水中的生物降解性．采用量子化学ＭＯＰＡＣ６．０－ＡＭ１法计算了化合物的分子量(ＭＷ)、生成热(Ｈｆ)、分子总表面积(ＴＳＡ)及最高占有轨道能(ＥＨＯＭＯ),结合辛醇/水分配系数ｌｇｐ及酸解离常数ｐＫａ对其中２２种化合物的ＢＯＤ值进行多元线性回归分析,得到如下模型:ＢＯＤ＝１０５．７３－０．４３９ＭＷ－０．０７６Ｈｆ－６．６６０ｌｇＰｎ＝２２,Ｒ２＝０．８２１,ＳＥ＝８．２５０,Ｆ＝２７．５６,Ｐ＝０．０００应用所得模型对其余５个化合物的生物降解性进行了预测．只有一个化合物的相对预测误差大于２０%,为２０．８%．平均预测误差为１２．４%．     

Processing and Properties of Mixtures of PHB-V with Post-consumer LDPE

Mixtures of poly-β-(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) PHB-V with virgin and post-consumer low density polyethylene (LDPE) were prepared by melt mixing in proportions of 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30 and 0/100 (wt/wt%). The mixtures were analysed by infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), melting flow index (MFI), tensile tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and biodegradation in simulated soil. The DMTA and DSC curves of post-consumer LDPE suggested that this polymer was a mixture of LDPE and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Virgin and post-consumer LDPE had lower MFI than PHB-V, but the blends showed higher index as the content of LDPE increased. The addition of LDPE reduced the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the mixtures compared with PHB-V. SEM indicated poor interfacial adhesion between PHB-V and LDPE. PHB-V degraded slow and gradually, while both LDPE showed virtually no degradation under the conditions studied. The biodegradability of the blends depended on their composition and of the type of LDPE. LDPE improved the biodegradability of the mixtures.     

Mechanical Property Characterization of Plasticized Sugar Beet Pulp and Poly(Lactic Acid) Green Composites Using Acoustic Emission and Confocal Microscopy

Sorbitol and glycerol were used to plasticize sugar beet pulp-poly(lactic acid) green composites. The plasticizer was incorporated into sugar beet pulp (SBP) at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% w/w at low temperature and shear and then compounded with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) using twin-screw extrusion and injection molding. The SBP:PLA ratio was maintained at 30:70. As expected, tensile strength decreased by 25% and the elongation increased. Acoustic emission (AE) showed correlated debonding and fracture mechanisms for up to 20% w/w plasticizer and uncorrelated debonding and fracture for 30–40% sorbitol and 30% glycerol content in SBP–PLA composites. All samples had a well dispersed SBP phase with some aggregation in the PLA matrix. However, at 40% glycerol plasticized SBP–PLA composites exhibited unique AE behavior and confocal microscopy revealed the plasticized SBP and PLA formed a co-continuous two phase system.

Compostability of Poly(lactide): Degradation in an Inert Solid Medium

Commercial poly(lactide) degradation was studied in an inert solid medium simulating compost conditions, with the aim to achieve a complete carbon balance of the polymer degradation. The mineralisation rate at the end of the test was compared to those obtained for poly(lactide) degradation in compost. It was shown that the mineralisation rate after 45 days of degradation was quite lower in inert solid medium than in compost but the standard deviation of data was enhanced. A protocol for both extraction and quantification of the carbon included in the different degradation by-products was proposed and the carbon balance of the polymer degradation was followed during the test with a satisfactory accuracy. The non-degraded PLA material was recovered during the test, hence the evolution of the glass transition temperature and the molecular weight was followed. A two-step degradation mechanism was highlighted in inert solid medium, showing the fundamental role of abiotic reactions for PLA degradation in compost.     

聚乙烯醇/氧化石墨插层纳米复合材料的结构和热分析

制备了聚乙烯醇/氧化石墨插层纳米复合材料,并用X-射线衍射仪和高分辨电镜对其结构进行了表征.X-射线衍射仪和高分辨电镜的试验结果表明,氧化石墨和聚乙烯醇插层氧化石墨的层间距分别为0.89 nm和1.4nm.该纳米复合材料的热分析和热失重图说明,氧化石墨的加入有利于提高聚乙烯醇/氧化石墨纳米复合材料的玻璃化转变温度和氧化温度,同时也降低了其热释放速率.     

Radiation Effects on Blends of Poly(ε-Caprolactone) and Diatomites

Poly(-caprolactone) (PCL) was blended with diatomaceous earth (diatomite) and irradiated with -rays to introduce cross-linking between PCL molecules or both components. The unwashed diatomite containing a little of a volatile component showed high efficiency of introduction of cross-linking, whereas that with no volatile component showed low efficiency of introduction of cross-linking. Elongational viscosity, melt viscosity, and modulus of PCL/diatomite blend irradiated at various doses were significantly improved. Enzymatic degradation of the PCL/diatomite blend became faster than that of the PCL, though that of the blend irradiated became slower.     

Distribution of Poly(β-propiolactone) Aerobic Degrading Microorganisms in Different Environments

The distribution of degading microorganisms of high molecular weight poly(-propiolactone) (PPL), whose individual structural units are similar to those of poly(-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(€-caprolactone) (PCL), was examined. Despite the fact that PPL is a chemosynthetic polymer, many kinds of PPL-degrading microorganisms were found to be distributed as resident populations widely in natural environments. A total of 77 strains of PPL-degrading microorganisms was isolated. From standard physiological and biochemical tests, at least 41 strains were referred to as Bacillus species. Microbial degradation of fibrous PPL proceeded rapidly in some enrichment cultures but was not as complete as that of PHB. Most of the isolated PPL-degrading microorganisms were determined to be PCL degraders and/or PHB degraders. Therefore, it can be assumed that mostly PPL is recognized by the microorganisms as PHB or another natural substrate of the same type as which PCL is regarded. Microbial degradation of PPL was confirmed by some Bacillus strains from type culture collections. The similarity of microbial degradation between PPL and PCL was found to be very close.