Effect of Almond Skin Waste and Glycidyl Methacrylate on Mechanical and Color Properties of Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Poly(lactic acid) Blends

Abstract

Blending Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a promising strategy to enhance the properties of biodegradable materials. However, these compounds are thermodynamically immiscible and, consequently, compatibilization is required during polymer blending. Reinforced biocomposites can be obtained by adding agricultural wastes generated by industries which are forced to consider waste treatment methods to prevent environmental concerns. Novel PCL/PLA blends were proposed based on the addition of 10 wt.% almond shell (AS) waste combined with 3 wt.% glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) as a compatibilizer. Different PCL-, PLA-, and PCL/PLA-based blends at different percentages (75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 15:85) added with GMA and AS were obtained. The color results highlighted the lower transparency and brownish tone of the studied formulations after the addition of AS. The addition of PCL provided a positive effect on PLA’s ductility due to its intrinsically higher flexibility. The combination of GMA and AS improved the mechanical properties of PCL, PLA, and 50:50 controls by reducing yield strength, yield strength at break, and elongation at break values. The 75:25_GMA_AS formulation showed a homogeneous visual appearance, low transparency, and desirable mechanical properties for rigid food packaging applications, reducing the final material cost through the revalorization of AS.

The Influence of the Molecular Weight of Poly(Ethylene Oxide) on the Hydrolytic Degradation and Physical Properties of Polycaprolactone Binary Blends

“…HME enables the selection of desirable properties from various polymers, which can then be combined via melt blending, creating a far superior material to the conventional polymers currently available. Melt blending polymers without the use of a solvent via HME is an approach that results in improved polymer properties suitable for biomedical applications [49]. Furthermore, blending can help tailor the degradation rate and drug release properties of the new material enabling the creation of new polymeric blends with unique and valuable properties broadening the range of commercially available polymers and their potential applications.…”