Pilot scale production of thermoplastic starch/bentonite nanocomposites and their blends with commodity polymers.

ANDRES TORRES NICOLINI; MARÍA P. GUARÁS; LEANDRO N. LUDUEÑA; VERA A. ALVAREZ

Buenos Aires

Workshop; III Workshop on Bio-based Polyurethane Composites and Natural Fillers, BIOPURFIL.; 2015

Universidad de Buenos Aires, UBA

The non-biodegradability of most plastics has caused many environmental problems. This fact has carried to an increased use of biodegradable polymers for industrial applications [1,2].The development of new materials for industrial applications consists of different stages. The first one is the design of synthesis routes and new material properties at laboratory scale matching the application requirements. Once this step is completed, the next step is the scaling of processes.In recent times, the development of starch-based products has a growing interest. Nevertheless, the TPS has low stability in high moisture conditions and has a fragile nature [2]. The mechanical properties of TPS can be greatly enhanced with the addition of a small amount of nanoclays (usually less than 10 wt%) [3]. In addition, blending TPS with other polymers has been used [4,5]. Polystyrene (PS) is a polymer widely used in thermoformed products while low density polyethylene (LDPE) is used for film blow molding (FBM). TPS/PS and TPS/LDPE blends could meet partial biodegradability, mechanical properties stability, and improved processability.The aim of this work is to scale up the synthesis of TPS nanocomposites and their blends with PS and LDPE in order to obtain partial biodegradable products by FBM and thermoforming, respectively.