Characterization of Different Chemical Blowing Agents and Their Applicability to Produce Poly(Lactic Acid) Foams by Extrusion
Source abstract
Abstract
This study presents the applicability of different types (exothermic and endothermic) of chemical blowing agents (CBAs) in the case of poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The amount of foaming agent is a fixed 2 wt%. We used a twin-screw extruder and added the individual components in the form of dry mixture through the hopper of the extruder. We characterized the PLA matrix and the chemical blowing agents with different testing methods. In case of the produced foams we carried out morphological and mechanical tests and used scanning electron microscopy to examine cell structure. We showed that PLA can be successfully foamed with the use of chemical blowing agents. The best results were achieved with an exothermic CBA and with PLA type 8052D. The cell population density of PLA foams produced this way was 4.82 × 105 cells/cm3, their expansion was 2.36, their density 0.53 g/cm3 and their void fraction was 57.61%.
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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.
Affiliations
Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
MTA–BME Research Group for Composite Science and Technology, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
Funding
Supported by the ÚNKP-17-4-III New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities. · This research was also supported by The National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NVKP_16-1-2016-0012).
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