JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #45 - November/December 2008 - 66

KNOW-HOW Biopolymer The “green” challenge: high-performance PLA (nano)composites Two products derived from the lactic acid manufacturing process − polylactide (PLA) and dehydrated gypsum − can be melt blended with selected additives to produce high-performance (nano)composites. The specific end-use properties of these products make them attractive for packaging and technical applications. PHILIPPE DUBOIS, PROFESSOR, & MARIUS MURARIU, PROJECT MANAGER, CENTRE OF INNOVATION AND RESEARCH IN MATERIALS & POLYMERS (CIRMAP), UNIVERSITY OF MONS-HAINAUT & MATERIA NOVA RESEARCH CENTER material produced from non-fossil renewable natural resources by fermentation of polysaccharides or sugar. It is extracted from corn or sugar beet, thus closing the biological cycle with PLA biodegradation and the photosynthesis process (Fig. 2). The green challenge in polymer composites: polylactide-based composites Biodegradable polymers are currently receiving considerable attention for conventional applications such as packaging materials, textile fibre production and, more recently, as composites for technical applications (electronic and electrical devices, mechanical and automotive parts, etc.). Fig. 2: Polylactic acid (PLA) life cycle starting with corn and sugar beet; the energy consumed by biological systems arises from solar energy (photosynthesis). Fig. 1: Total global biodegradable polymer market (source: BCC Research; Plastics, Additives and Compounding 2008; 10(1): 4). In this context, the market for biodegradable polymers is growing every year (Fig. 1). With a 17.3% estimated compound average annual growth rate (CAGR), this market should exceed 545 million kilograms by 2012. Significant demand can be expected for applications where both the level of performance and biodegradability offer clear advantages for customers and the environment. In competition with petroleum-based polymers such as PET, PS, PE, etc., polylactide or polylactic acid (PLA) undoubtedly appears as one of the most promising candidates for future developments. PLA is a biodegradable PLA compositions were first considered in limited quantities for biomedical applications that take advantage of PLA biodegradability and biocompatibility. More recently, PLA-based materials gained interest as environmentally friendly (filled) thermoplastics with wide applicability [1-3]. Nowadays, boosted by the announced large-scale production and lower selling price, the research on PLA chemistry/processing and modification is extremely productive. It is worth noting that CIRMAP and Materia Nova have significantly contributed to the scientific research on PLA and, more generally, biodegradable polymers. The Interreg-financed projects, Mabiolac “Production of biodegradable composite materials based on lactic acid” (see below) and, more recently, Nanolac “Nanoparticles for the production of high-performance materials based on polylactic acid”, are proof of that. These projects are part of a large panel of research activities ranging from the fundamental/laboratory level up to industrial applications. They involve four main fields: jec composites magazine / No45 November-December 2008

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #45 - November/December 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #45 - November/December 2008