Transition from microcellular to nanocellular chain extended poly(lactic acid)/hydroxyl-functionalized graphene foams by supercritical CO2
Source abstract
Abstract
Currently, preparing nanocellular semi-crystalline polymer foams by supercritical CO2 is a big and newly developing challenge. In this paper, chain extender (CE) and hydroxyl-functionalized graphene (HG) were introduced into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) through melt blending method to improve the crystallization behaviors, rheological properties and foaming behaviors of PLA. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed that the cold crystallization temperature of chain extended PLA (CPLA)/HG was higher 8.2 °C than that of CPLA, due to the introduction of HG and the strong interaction between CPLA and HG. The viscoelasticity of PLA was improved by the addition of CE and HG, due to the formation of branching structure and the interaction between CPLA and HG. Compared with that in PLA/HG, HG aggregation in CPLA/HG became many but small, indicating that the aggregation of HG in the matrix released. A facile batch foaming method with constant foaming temperature slightly lower than melting temperature was employed to fabricate nanocellular PLA foams in the presence of supercritical CO2. The transition temperature from microcells to nanocells in various PLA foams was confirmed. The effect of chain extension, foaming temperature and the introduction of HG on cell size, cell density, cell size distribution and volume expansion ratio (VER) was studied systematically. For the CPLA/HG foam prepared at 130 °C, its cell size could reach 350 ± 247 nm as well as its cell density and VER were 1.76 × 1013 cells/cm3 and 3.71 ± 0.16 times, respectively. Finally, the foaming mechanism for the nanocell formation was proposed and explained by schematic diagram.
Source: openaire · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Polymer Foaming and Composites · biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties · Carbon dioxide utilization in catalysis
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (47)
Show source-provided references
1. Okolieocha C, Raps D, Subramaniam K, Altstadt V (2015) Microcellular to nanocellular polymer foams: progress (2004–2015) and future directions—a review. Eur Polym J 73:500–51910.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.11.001 ↗
2. Muanchan P, Ito H (2018) Nanocellular foams confined within PS microfibers obtained by CO2 batch foaming process. Microsyst Technol 24:655–66210.1007/s00542-017-3396-7 ↗
3. Nofar M, Park CB (2014) Poly(lactic acid) foaming. Prog Polym Sci 39:1721–174110.1016/j.progpolymsci.2014.04.001 ↗
4. Yeh SK, Chen YR, Kang TW et al (2018) Different approaches for creating nanocellular TPU foams by supercritical CO2 foaming. J Polym Res 25:3010.1007/s10965-017-1419-9 ↗
5. Leon MD, Bernardo V, Rodriguez-Perez MA (2017) Key production parameters to obtain transparent nanocellular PMMA. Macromol Mater Eng 302:170034310.1002/mame.201700343 ↗
6. Luo Y, Ye C (2012) Using nanocapsules as building blocks to fabricate organic polymer nanofoam with ultra low thermal conductivity and high mechanical strength. Polymer 53:5699–570510.1016/j.polymer.2012.10.012 ↗
7. Forest C, Chaumont P, Cassagnau P, Swoboda B, Sonntag P (2015) Polymer nano-foams for insulating applications prepared from CO2 foaming. Prog Polym Sci 41:122–14510.1016/j.progpolymsci.2014.07.001 ↗
8. Ling J, Zhai W, Feng W, Shen B, Zhang J, Zheng WG (2013) A facile preparation of lightweight microcellular polyetherimide/graphene composites foams for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Acs Appl Mater Interfaces 5:2677–268410.1021/am303289m ↗
9. Gaspard S, Oujja M, Nalda RD, Castillejo M, Banares L, Lazare S, Bonneau R (2008) Nanofoaming dynamics in biopolymers by femtosecond laser irradiation. Appl Phys A 93:209–21310.1007/s00339-008-4649-1 ↗
10. Reignier J, Huneault MA (2006) Preparation of interconnected poly(3-caprolactone) porous scaffolds by a combination of polymer and salt particulate leaching. Polymer 47:4703–471710.1016/j.polymer.2006.04.029 ↗
11. Hong SM, Hwang SS (2006) A nanofoaming process and dielectric properties of polymethylphenylsilsesquioxane-based nanofoams. J Appl Polym Sci 100:4964–497110.1002/app.23809 ↗
12. Costeux S (2014) CO2-blown nanocellular foams. J Appl Polym Sci 41293:1–16
13. Costeux S, Zhu L (2013) Low density thermoplastic nanofoams nucleated by nanoparticles. Polymer 54:2785–279510.1016/j.polymer.2013.03.052 ↗
14. Guo H, Kumar V (2015) Some thermodynamic and kinetic low-temperature properties of the PC-CO2 system and morphological characteristics of solid-state PC nanofoams produced with liquid CO2. Polymer 56:46–5610.1016/j.polymer.2014.09.061 ↗
15. Tiwary P, Park CB, Kontopoulou M (2017) Transition from microcellular to nanocellular PLA foams by controlling viscosity, branching and crystallization. Eur Polym J 91:283–29610.1016/j.eurpolymj.2017.04.010 ↗
16. Yi XJO, Lai YL, Davoodi P, Wang CH (2018) Production of drug-releasing biodegradable microporous scaffold using a two-step micro-encapsulation/supercritical foaming process. J Supercrit Fluid 133:263–26910.1016/j.supflu.2017.10.018 ↗
17. Lee ST (2004) Thermoplastic foam processing: Principles and development. CRC Press, Boca Raton
18. Zhao H, Cui Z, Wang X, Turng LS, Peng X (2013) Processing and characterization of solid and microcellular poly(lactic acid)/polyhydroxybutyrate-valerate (PLA/PHBV) blends and PLA/PHBV/Clay nanocomposites. Compos Part B Eng 51:79–9110.1016/j.compositesb.2013.02.034 ↗
19. Wang X, Liu W, Zhou H, Liu B, Li H, Du Z, Zhang C (2013) Study on the effect of dispersion phase morphology on porous structure of poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol-modified) blending foams. Polymer 54:5839–585110.1016/j.polymer.2013.08.050 ↗
20. Lu X, Tang L, Wang L, Zhao J, Li D, Wu Z, Xiao P (2016) Morphology and properties of bio-based poly(lactic acid)/high-density polyethylene blends and their glass fiber reinforced composites. Polym Test 54:90–9710.1016/j.polymertesting.2016.06.025 ↗
21. Wang Z, Ding X, Zhao M, Wang X, Xu G, Xiang A, Zhou H (2017) A cooling and two-step depressurization foaming approach for the preparation of modified HDPE foam with complex cellular structure. J Supercrit Fluid 125:22–3010.1016/j.supflu.2017.01.011 ↗
22. Mihai M, Huneault MA, Favis BD, Li H (2007) Extrusion foaming of semi-crystalline PLA and PLA/thermoplastic starch blends. Macromol Biosci 7:907–92010.1002/mabi.200700080 ↗
23. Chen P, Zhou H, Liu W, Zhang M, Du Z, Wang X (2015) The synergistic effect of zinc oxide and phenylphosphonic acid zinc salt on the crystallization behavior of poly(lactic acid). Polym Degrad Stab 122:25–3510.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2015.10.014 ↗
24. Liu W, Chen P, Wang X, Wang F, Wu Y (2017) Effects of poly(butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate) as a macromolecular nucleating agent on the crystallization and foaming behavior of biodegradable poly(lactic acid). Cell Polym 36:75–9610.1177/026248931703600202 ↗
25. Nerkar M, Ramsay JA, Ramsay BA, Kontopoulou M (2015) Dramatic improvements in strain hardening and crystallization kinetics of PLA by simple reactive modification in the melt state. Macromol Mater Eng 299:1419–142410.1002/mame.201400078 ↗
26. Bouakaz BS, Habi A, Grohens Y, Pillin I (2017) Organomontmorillonite/graphene-PLA/PCL nanofilled blends: new strategy to enhance the functional properties of PLA/PCL blend. Appl Clay Sci 139:81–9110.1016/j.clay.2017.01.014 ↗
27. Zhao JC, Du FP, Zhou XP et al (2011) Thermal conductive and electrical properties of polyurethane/hyperbranched poly(urea-urethane)-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotube composites. Compos Part B Eng 42:2111–211610.1016/j.compositesb.2011.05.005 ↗
28. Zhou H, Wang X, Du Z, Li H, Yu K (2015) Preparation and characterization of chain extended poly(butylene succinate) foams. Polym Eng Sci 55:988–99410.1002/pen.23964 ↗
29. Wang X, Zhang Y, Liu B, Du Z, Li H (2008) Crystallization behavior and crystal morphology of linear/long chain branching polypropylene blends. Polym J 40:450–45410.1295/polymj.PJ2007195 ↗
30. Sullivan EM, Yun JO, Gerhardt RA, Wang B, Kalaitzidou K (2014) Understanding the effect of polymer crystallinity on the electrical conductivity of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet/polylactic acid composite films. J Polym Res 21:56310.1007/s10965-014-0563-8 ↗
31. Qi F, Tang M, Chen X, Chen M, Guo G, Zhang Z (2015) Morphological structure, thermal and mechanical properties of tough poly(lactic acid) upon stereocomplexes. Eur Polym J 71:314–32410.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.08.008 ↗
32. Pantani R, Santis FD, Sorrentino A, Maio FD, Titomanlio G (2010) Crystallization kinetics of virgin and processed poly(lactic acid). Polym Degrad Stabil 95:1148–115910.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2010.04.018 ↗
33. Zhao M, Ding X, Mi J, Zhou H, Wang X (2017) Role of high-density polyethylene in the crystallization behaviors, rheological property, and supercritical CO2 foaming of poly(lactic acid). Polym Degrad Stab 146:277–28610.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2017.11.003 ↗
34. Kuang TR, Mi HY, Fu DJ, Jing X, Chen BY, Mou WJ, Peng XF (2015) Fabrication of poly(lactic acid)/graphene oxide foams with highly oriented and elongated cell structure via unidirectional foaming using supercritical carbon dioxide. Ind Eng Chem Res 54:758–76810.1021/ie503434q ↗
35. Wang X, Zhou H, Liu B, Du Z, Li H (2015) Chain extension and foaming behavior of poly(lactic acid) by functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and chain extender. Adv Polym Technol 33:2144410.1002/adv.21444 ↗
36. Chen L, Rende D, Schadler LS, Ozisik R (2013) Polymer nanocomposite foams. J Mater Chem A 1:3837–385010.1039/c2ta00086e ↗
37. Mihai M, Huneault MA, Favis BD (2010) Rheology and extrusion foaming of chain-branched poly(lactic acid). Polym Eng Sci 50:629–64210.1002/pen.21561 ↗
38. Kolodka E, Wang W, Zhu S, Hamielec AE (2004) Rheological and thermomechanical properties of long-chain-branched polyethylene prepared by slurry polymerization with metallocene catalysts. J Appl Polym Sci 92:307–31610.1002/app.13705 ↗
39. Rajagopalan G, Immordino KM Jr, Gillespie JW, Mcknight SH (2000) Diffusion and reaction of epoxy and amine in polysulfone studied using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy: experimental results. Polymer 41:2591–260210.1016/S0032-3861(99)00418-8 ↗
40. Liu C, Ye S, Feng J (2017) Promoting the dispersion of graphene and crystallization of poly(lactic acid) with a freezing-dried graphene/PEG masterbatch. Compos Sci Technol 144:215–22210.1016/j.compscitech.2017.03.031 ↗
41. Li K, Cui Z, Sun X, Turng LS, Huang H (2011) Effects of nanoclay on the morphology and physical properties of solid and microcellular injection molded polyactide/poly(butylenes adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) nanocomposites and blends. J Biobased Mater Bioenergy 5:442–45110.1166/jbmb.2011.1182 ↗
42. Najafi N, Heuzey MC, Carreau PJ, Therriault D, Park CB (2014) Rheological and foaming behavior of linear and branched polylactides. Rheol Acta 53:779–79010.1007/s00397-014-0801-3 ↗
43. Zhang Y, Tiwary P, Parent JS, Kontopoulou M, Park CB (2013) Crystallization and foaming of coagent-modified polypropylene: nucleation effects of cross-linked nanoparticles. Polymer 54:4814–481910.1016/j.polymer.2013.07.020 ↗
44. Nofar M, Guo Y, Park CB (2013) Double crystal melting peak generation for expanded polypropylene bead foam manufacturing. Ind Eng Chem Res 52:2297–230310.1021/ie302625e ↗
45. Nofar M, Zhu W, Park CB (2012) Effect of dissolved CO2 on the crystallization behavior of linear and branched PLA. Polymer 53:3341–335310.1016/j.polymer.2012.04.054 ↗
46. Liu H, Wang X, Zhou H, Liu W, Liu B (2015) The Preparation and characterization of branching poly(ethylene terephthalate) and its foaming behavior. Cell Polym 34:63–9410.1177/026248931503400202 ↗
47. Colton JS, Suh NP (1987) Nucleation of microcellular foam: theory and practice. Polym Eng Sci 27:500–50310.1002/pen.760270704 ↗