O5- The main drawbacks of bio-based thermoplastics materials deal with their poor rheological and mechanical properties, which hinder the use of conventional film processing techniques [59; 60]. To this aim, PHA and PLA biosynthesized polyesters will be blended with commercial polymers, such as polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene adipate terephtalate (PBAT), to prepare films by compression molding [61]. The best performing formulations will be selected and processed by film extrusion.
In the first part of this activity, extrusion protocols will be improved by modifying the formulations prepared with the addition of additives such as chain extenders and/or rheological modifiers, to increase the melt strength and compatibility of the polymer blends [62-64]. To this aim, epoxidized vegetable oils from cardoon will be tested. In addition, bioactive compounds from cardoon leaves will be included in the optimized formulations, aimed to the development of functional packaging materials and mulching films [65-67]. The obtained formulations will be subjected to structural, mechanical, and gas permeability characterization by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tensile tests [68; 69].
Project Results