Effects of Wood Flour (WF) Pretreatment and the Addition of a Toughening Agent on the Properties of FDM 3D-Printed WF/Poly(lactic acid) Biocomposites

In order to improve the properties of wood flour (WF)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) 3D-printed composites, WF was treated with a silane coupling agent (KH550) and acetic anhydride (Ac₂O), respectively. The effects of WF modification and the addition of acrylicester resin (ACR) as a toughening agent on the flowability of WF/PLA composite filament and the mechanical, thermal, dynamic mechanical thermal and water absorption properties of fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D-printed WF/PLA specimens were investigated. The results indicated that the melt index (MI) of the specimens decreased after WF pretreatment or the addition of ACR, while the die swell ratio increased; KH550-modified WF/PLA had greater tensile strength, tensile modulus and impact strength, while Ac₂O-modified WF/PLA had greater tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact strength than unmodified WF/PLA; after the addition of ACR, all the strengths and moduli of WF/PLA could be improved; after WF pretreatment or the addition of ACR, the thermal decomposition temperature, storage modulus and glass transition temperature of WF/PLA were all increased, and water absorption was reduced.     

Effects of Printing Parameters on Properties of FDM 3D Printed Residue of Astragalus/Polylactic Acid Biomass Composites

In order to develop a new kind of filament material for the fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing, the residue of Astragalus (ROA), one of the most important Chinese herbal medicines, and polylactic acid were chosen as the raw materials to FDM 3D print biomass composite specimens, the effects of the printing parameters on the properties of the specimens were investigated. The results indicated that the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the printed specimen were affected obviously by the parameters while the melting and crystallization behavior of the specimens were little affected. For the wettability, it was also little affected by the printing parameter except for the printing speed. Increasing the printing temperature and the filling density or reducing the printing speed and the layer thickness could improve both the mechanical properties and the thermal stability of the FDM 3D printed PLA/ROA composite specimen; reducing the deposition angle could also improve the mechanical properties while having little effect on the thermal stability of the specimen.     

聚乳酸荧光防伪纤维的制备及其性能

通过熔融纺丝法成功制备了聚乳酸荧光防伪纤维。分别采用DSC、XRD、纤维强度仪、荧光光谱仪、荧光显微镜等探讨了荧光粉含量对聚乳酸荧光防伪纤维的结晶结构、力学性能与荧光性能的影响,并利用激光共聚焦显微镜对防伪纤维进行了3D荧光分布模拟分析。研究结果表明:聚乳酸荧光防伪纤维在紫外光激发下,在530nm处出现最强发射峰,纤维呈黄绿色荧光;随着荧光粉含量的增加,纤维的荧光强度增加,但荧光粉在基体中的团聚现象逐渐加剧,纤维的断裂强度逐渐降低;激光共聚焦显微镜可较好地模拟荧光防伪纤维中荧光粉的分布情况。     

Poly(lactic acid) Synthesis in Solution Polymerization

The step-growth polymerization of L-lactic acid in solution was studied in this work. In order to attain a polymer with high molecular weight, the water formed during the polymerization must be continuously removed. The use of organic solvents with high boiling point, drying agents and reduced pressure led to poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with high molecular weight, directly from the monomer. Tin (II) chloride dihydrate, SnCl₂.2H₂O, was the best of the catalysts tested as it allowed achieving PLA with a molecular weight close to 80 000 g.mol⁻¹. However, the stereoregurarity control is a severe problem in PLA synthesis by step-growth due to transesterification reactions, which lead to an inversion of the conformation and a decrease of the optical purity of the polymer. Specific rotation measurements were used in this work and showed to be a powerful technique to evaluate the racemization extent. The thermal stability of the PLA samples was evaluated by DSC which exhibits a thermal behaviour similar to the commercial Polylactide.     

Multifunctional properties of 3D printed poly(lactic acid)/graphene nanocomposites by fused deposition modeling

In this work, three-dimensional (3D) printing system based on fused deposition modeling (FDM) is used for the fabrication of conductive polymer nanocomposites. This technology consists in the additive multilayer deposition of polymeric nanocomposite based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and graphene by means of a in house made low-cost commercial bench-top 3D printer. Further, 3D printed PLA/graphene nanocomposites containing 10 wt% graphene in PLA matrix were characterized for their mechanical, electrical and electromagnetic induction shielding properties of the nanocomposite. Furthermore X-ray computed micro-tomography analyses showed that printed samples have good dimensional accuracy and are significantly closer to the predefined design and the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) printed samples showed a uniform dispersion of graphene in PLA matrix The proposed material has uniquely advantageous when implemented in 3D printed structures, because incorporation of multifunctional graphene has been shown to substantially improve the properties of the resulting nanocomposite.     

聚乳酸/蒙脱土纳米复合材料的结构和热性能

聚乳酸/蒙脱土纳米复合材料的结构和热性能;聚乳酸;蒙脱土;纳米复合材料;插层     

Tensile and Thermal Properties of Poly(lactic acid)/Eggshell Powder Composite Films

Biodegradable composite films of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/eggshell powder (ESP) were prepared by the composite film casting method using chloroform as the solvent. ESP was loaded in PLA in 1 to 5 wt.%. The films were subjected to tensile, FT-IR spectral, thermogravimetric, X-ray, and microscopic analyses. The tensile strength and modulus of the composite films were found to be higher than those of PLA and increased with ESP content up to 4 wt.% and then decreased. A reverse trend was observed in the case of percentage elongation at break. The X-ray diffractograms of the composite films indicated an increase in crystallinity with ESP content. The optical micrographs indicated uniform distribution of ESP particles in the composite films. However, the fractographs indicated agglomeration of ESP particles at 5 wt.% loading. The FT-IR spectra revealed no specific interactions between PLA and ESP. The thermal stability of the composite films increased with ESP content.     

开环聚合-固相缩聚法制备立体嵌段聚乳酸

首先,采用乳酸为引发剂,辛酸亚锡为催化剂,引发丙交酯开环聚合制得具有缩聚活性的L-聚乳酸和D-聚乳酸;然后,将两者熔融共混后进行固相缩聚,合成了一系列立体嵌段聚乳酸。采用核磁共振(NMR)、凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)及差示扫描量热仪(DSC)分析了产物的链结构、重均分子量、热性能,并探讨了均相晶体和立体复合晶体共存情况下的固相缩聚机理。结果表明,固相缩聚产物分子量增长的适宜反应条件为:反应时间30h,较低的催化剂含量,L-聚乳酸质量分数为80%。L-聚乳酸和D-聚乳酸共混物较低的初始立体复合晶体结晶度有利于后续固相缩聚过程中产物分子量的增长;固相缩聚不仅发生在异链之间,而且也发生在同链之间。     

聚丁二酸丁二醇酯与氯醚弹性体协同增韧改性聚乳酸多元共混体系

以来源于可再生资源聚丁二酸丁二醇酯(PBS)和氯醚橡胶(ECO)作为聚乳酸(PLA)的增韧改性剂,通过熔融共混的方法制备了PLA/PBS/ECO三元共混体系。动态力学分析和扫描电子显微镜结果表明,ECO促进了PBS和PLA之间的相容性。力学性能测试表明,ECO与PBS可实现对聚乳酸基体的协同增韧: PLA/PBS/ECO(70/20/10)显示出最优的拉伸性能,断裂伸长率高达270%;PLA/PBS/ECO(70/10/20)的冲击强度提高至23.7 kJ/m²,是纯聚乳酸的12倍。结合形态结构和冲击断面形貌分析表明ECO的存在可起到增容/增韧双重作用, 与柔性PBS产生良好的协同效应,有效改善聚乳酸材料的韧性。我们的研究表明,构造PLA-柔性生物聚酯和生物基弹性体多元共混体系是一种获得高性能生物基材料简单高效的手段。     

Photo-grafting Poly(acrylic acid) onto Poly(lactic acid) Chains in Solution

Poly(lactic acid)(PLA)is one of the most important bio-plastics,and chemical modification of the already-polymerized poly(lactic acid)chains may enable optimization of its material properties and expand its application areas.In this study,we demonstrated that poly(lactic acid)can be readily dissolved in acrylic acid at room temperature,and acrylic acid can be graft-polymerized onto poly(lactic acid)chains in solution with the help of photoinitiator benzophenone under 254 nm ultraviolet(UV)irradiation.Similar photo-grafting polymerization of acrylic acid(PAA)has only been studied before in the surface modification of polymer films.The graft ratio could be controlled by various reaction parameters,including irradiation time,benzophenone content,and monomer/polymer ratios.This photo-grafting reaction resulted in high graft ratio(graft ratio PAA/PLA up to 180%)without formation of homopolymers of acrylic acid.When the PAA/PLA graft ratio was higher than 100%,the resulting PLA-g-PAA polymer was found dispersible in water.The pros and cons of the photo-grafting reaction were also discussed.     

生物基超韧聚乳酸复合材料的制备与性能

采用来源于可再生资源的聚醚酰胺弹性体（PEBA）增韧聚乳酸（PLA）制备超韧聚乳酸（PLA/PEBA-GMA）复合材料.为了提高PEBA与PLA之间的相容性,选择极性单体甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯（GMA）、共接枝单体乙烯基吡咯烷酮（NVP）及引发剂过氧化二异丙苯（DCP）对PEBA进行接枝改性制备PEBA-GMA.研究了接枝单体组分的用量（m/g）对PLA/PEBA-GMA复合材料性能的影响.研究发现,随着接枝单体组分用量的提高,复合材料的缺口冲击强度逐渐增大,当接枝单体组分GMA,NVP和DCP的用量分别为2.5,2.5和0.25 g时,复合材料的冲击强度高达88.6 kJ/m²,断裂伸长率为164.1%.研究表明,在熔融共混过程中,聚乳酸的端基（—OH和—COOH）与PEBA-GMA上环氧基团发生反应,有效改善两相间的界面相容性,随着接枝单体组分比例的提高,分散相PEBA-GMA的粒子尺寸逐渐减小且分布均匀.     

Poly(lactic acid) Polymerized by Aluminum Triflate

The ring-opening polymerization of L -lactide (LA) has been initiated by aluminum triflate (trifluoromethanesulfonate) in air using a simple glass tube at 100 °C without desiccation steps and stirring. It was found that the molecular weight of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was increased by the addition of an alcohol as an initiator to the reaction mixture. The highest number averaged molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and recovery of the obtained PLA at 100 °C for 6 h were 18,200, 1.20, and 73%, respectively. With the addition of a small percentage of alcohol and a long reaction time of the polymerization method with the re-addition of LA, PLA (ca. 80 wt%) with a higher molecular weight (ca. 30,000) initiated by the added alcohol was produced with PLA (ca. 20 wt%) with a lower molecular weight (ca. 2,000) initiated by impurities such as water, which exist in a monomer, initiator, or catalyst.     

环氧基团功能化弹性体增韧聚乳酸的性能

以2种不同结构的弹性体乙烯-辛烯共聚物接枝甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯(POE-g-GMA)和乙烯-丙烯酯甲酯-甲基丙烯酯缩水甘油酯三元共聚物(E-MA-GMA)增韧聚乳酸(PLA), 研究了接枝型与嵌段型弹性体的结构对聚乳酸增韧效果的影响. 结果表明, 接枝型聚合物POE-g-GMA与基体PLA之间具有良好的界面相互作用, 当POE-g-GMA的质量分数为15%时, 共混体系的缺口冲击强度为72.4 kJ/m², 而E-MA-GMA的质量分数为15%时, 共混体系的缺口冲击强度为32.4 kJ/m², 结果表明, 接枝型聚合物POE-g-GMA增韧效果明显优于嵌段型E-MA-GMA.     

Different enantioselectivity of two types of poly(lactic acid) depolymerases toward poly(l-lactic acid) and poly(d-lactic acid)

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) depolymerases are categorized into protease-type and lipase-type. Protease-types can hydrolyze poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) but not poly(d-lactic acid) (PDLA). Lipase-types, including cutinase-like enzyme (CLE) from Cryptococcus sp. strain S-2 preferentially hydrolyze PDLA. Both enzymes degraded not only PLA emulsion but also PLA film, in which amorphous region is preferentially attacked, but crystalline region can be also attacked. Stereocomplex PLA (sc-PLA) formed by 50:50 blending of PLLA and PDLA included no homo crystals, but a tiny homo crystallization peak appeared and crystallinity increased by 5% when attacked by CLE, although no significant change of molecular weight and crystalline size was found. Enantioselective degradation must occur in amorphous region of PLLA/PDLA film and preferentially hydrolyzed PDLA, resulting in a slightly excess amount of PLLA remained, which must be crystallized.     

Poly(lactic acid)‐based nanocomposites

Classic plastics accumulate in nature causing environmental pollution, yet as a counterbalance they benefit society in many ways. They are versatile, cost‐effective, and can be tailored to have desired properties. The global environment has led to the fabrication of commodity plastics from environmentally degradable polymers. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is the most promising among the environmentally friendly polymers available. PLA‐based plastics have mechanical, thermal, and transparency similar to traditional plastics, and they can be molded and fabricated using the same equipment and procedures. Their material properties are enhanced through nanocomposites, compatibilizers, plasticizers, and other fillers (flame retardant, ultraviolet filter, etc.). This review summarizes mass production techniques and property reinforcements (focusing on nanocomposites and plasticizers) for PLA‐based plastics for commodity use. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fabrication of Poly(lactic acid) Diacrylate Nanospheres with Double Bonds

Summary: In this paper, unsaturated groups were introduced into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) for fabricating PLA‐based nanospheres with carbon‐carbon double bonds as functional groups. The morphology dependencies on fabrication conditions, including the fabrication time as well as the stirring rate, were also investigated.

SEM‐EDX image of poly(lactic acid) diacrylate nanospheres after exposure to osmium tetroxide vapor for 14 h.     

Light olefins/paraffins sorption in poly(lactic acid) films

The sorption behavior of small molecules like ethane and ethylene in poly (lactic acid) (PLA) was studied in the temperature interval from 283 to 313 K using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM). The effect of the polymer structure on the solubility selectivity of PLA films with respect to these two gases was studied using polymer with two different L:D ratios (98:2 and 80:20). Furthermore, the polymer films were submitted to different thermal treatments to address the influence of crystallinity and morphology of the noncrystalline fraction on the sorption behavior. The sorption results obtained indicate that ethylene solubility coefficient in annealed PLA 98:2 is about 26% higher than that of ethane and 41% higher in PLA 98:2 melted. The dual‐mode sorption model describes well the sorption isotherms behavior, which is concave concerning the pressure axis. The fully amorphous PLA presents the better selectivity for the studied gases, since the crystallinity seems to produce a negative effect on the selectivity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1312–1319, 2008     

聚乳酸/壳聚糖季铵盐皂石纳米复合材料的原位插层聚合及性能表征

通过两步法将2,3-环氧丙基三甲基氯化铵接枝壳聚糖合成了水溶性壳聚糖季铵盐(HTCC),以其为插层剂对稀有的新疆皂石(Saponite)黏土矿物进行有机改性,制备了壳聚糖季铵盐皂石(HTCC-saponite),并以其为助剂,以丙交酯为单体,通过原位插层聚合法制备了聚乳酸(PLA)/HTCC-saponite纳米复合材料.最优化合成条件:聚合反应温度150℃,辛酸亚锡加量2%(质量分数),HTCC-saponite加量1%(质量分数)、聚合反应时间16 h.微观结构分析表明HTCC-saponite具有插层与剥离共存的结构.采用X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、热重分析(TG-DTG)和差示扫描量热仪(DSC)等对PLA/HTCC-saponite纳米复合材料的微观结构、形貌及热稳定性进行了表征和分析.结果表明,HTCC-saponite有效改善了PLA的结晶性能,提高PLA的热稳定性.抗菌测试结果表明,HTCC-saponite具有良好的抗菌性,并赋予PLA/HTCC-saponite复合材料较强的抑菌能力.     

聚乳酸与聚乳酸-羟基乙酸多孔细胞支架的制备及孔隙的表征

应用溶液烧铸致孔剂浸出技术制备了不同致孔剂用量与不同致孔剂颗粒尺寸条件下的一系列聚乳酸及不同组成的聚乳酸－羟基乙酸多孔细胞支架;用一种改进的方法－重量法测定其孔隙率;在聚乳酸－羟基乙酸多孔支架上进行了软骨细胞培养。研究结果表明,随着制备过程中致孔剂用量的增加,多孔支架的孔隙逐渐增加,而与致孔剂的颗粒大小基本无关;致孔剂的颗粒大小只影响多孔支架的孔径;在致孔剂用量及致孔剂颗粒尺寸都相同的情况下,随着共聚物中乙交酯含量的增加,孔隙率逐渐下降;软骨细胞在支架上繁殖情况良好,三周后已开始分泌细胞外基质。