Extrusion of polypropylene/chitosan/poly(lactic-acid) films: Chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties

Development of extruded films composed of biopolymers blended with synthetic polymers aims to minimize the environmental impact of plastic waste-materials and lead to the sustainable plastic industry. To produce biodegradable polymeric blends, the weight content of biopolymers must be maximum without compromising the performance properties of the extruded films. Using a solvent-free extrusion method, films composed of polypropylene, poly(lactic-acid), and Chitosan, can be obtained with the use of polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride and glycerol as compatibilizer and plasticizer, respectively. Extruded films with up to a 50 wt% content of biopolymers show acceptable thermal and mechanical properties, where the use of compatibilizer improves the processing characteristics and homogeneous distribution of chitosan throughout the films. Therefore, the extruded films can be considered as alternatives to conventional synthetic-polymer films, due to their acceptable mechanical and thermal properties with direct potential applications in extrusion-method mass production of biodegradable polymers.

Automated summary

The development of extruded films composed of biopolymers blended with synthetic polymers aims to minimize environmental impact and lead to sustainable plastic industry. By maximizing the weight content of biopolymers without compromising performance properties, extruded films with up to 50 wt% biopolymers show acceptable thermal and mechanical properties. Improving processing characteristics and homogeneous distribution of biopolymers throughout the films make them an alternative to conventional synthetic-polymer films.