Vigilancia Tecnológica

Plasticized PLA?polyether block copolymers have proven to be a promising option to expand the application range of PLA?based materials. However, plasticization additionally reduces their melt viscosity, leading to poor processability. Strategies to overcome this limitation are presented as a step towards commercial introduction of this technology.A series of strategies are investigated, which allow internally plasticized polylactide (PLA)?polyether block copolymers to be effectively melt?processed through blown film extrusion in the semi?technical scale. Among the strategies presented are the use of tris(nonylphenyl) phosphite (TNPP) as a chain extender during the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide and the application of ??caprolactone (CL) as a plasticizing comonomer. The produced films have a significantly higher flexibility than pure PLA films and are in a comparable range to the flexibility of fossil?based, film?grade low?density polyethylene (LDPE) films.