Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Student at University of Zabol
2 zabol
3 Zabol University
4 wood and paper department, University of Zabol
Abstract
Abstract
Background and purpose: Today, natural polymers such as cellulose, starch, and polylactic acid (PLA) are used as alternatives to petroleum polymers in various fields. Among them, PLA has been considered as the polymer that has the most structural similarities to petroleum polymers. In this study, PLA was used as the base polymer for foam production, wood floor was used as a mechanical property enhancer, azodicarbonamide (ACA) was used as a foaming agent, and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was used as a nucleating agent.
Materials and methods: The PLA foams were prepared by combining wood flour, foaming agent, and nucleating agent in an extruder and then molding under a press. The effect of MCC as a nucleating agent in the production of PLA/wood flour foam with ACA foaming agent was investigated. Thermal properties of the prepared panels were investigated using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) tests.
Results: The results showed that by increasing the amount of foaming agent to 3% and nucleating agent to 4%, the density of the foam panel was reduced by 52.45%. The decrease in density was accompanied by an increase in porosity, an increase in water absorption, and an increase in thickness swelling at all treatment levels (1 to 3% foaming agent and 1 to 4% nucleating agent). Also, this decrease in density led to a decrease in tensile and flexural strength as well as an increase in impact strength. The results of TGA and DSC tests showed that the use of a foaming agent did not change the glass transition temperature of the manufactured foams, but the addition of MCC led to an increase in the glass transition temperature of the foams. Also, the DSC results showed a change in the crystallization behavior of the manufactured foams after the addition of MCC.
Conclusion: Overall, this study indicated that the nucleation property of MCC was effective in controlling cell growth and reducing pore diameter. Therefore, MCC can be used to produce microcellular polylactic acid foam of acceptable quality.
Keywords: Polylactic acid (PLA), Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), Azodicarbonamide (ACA), Polystyrene foams, Foaming agent, Nucleating agent.
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Keywords
- Polylactic acid (PLA)
- Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)
- Azodicarbonamide (ACA)
- Polystyrene foams
- Foaming agent
- Nucleating agent
Main Subjects
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