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Seier M, Archodoulaki VM, Koch T, Duscher B, Gahleitner M. Prospects for Recyclable Multilayer Packaging: A Case Study. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:2966. [PMID: 37447609 DOI: 10.3390/polym15132966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Food preservation is an essential application for polymers, particularly in packaging. Complex multilayer films, such as those used for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), extend the shelf life of sensitive foods. These mostly contain various polymers to achieve the necessary combination of mechanic, optic, and barrier properties that limit their recyclability. As the European Union's Circular Economy Action Plan calls for sustainable products and business models, including waste prevention policies and recycling quotas, with plastic packaging being a high priority, solutions towards more sustainable multilayer packaging are urgently needed. This study evaluated and compared the recycling potential of functionally equivalent PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PP (polypropylene) post-consumer MAP through structure analysis and recycling simulation. The structure analysis revealed that both types of MAP contained functional (stability) and barrier layers (oxygen and moisture). The recycling simulation showed that the PP-based packaging was recyclable 10 times, maintaining its mechanical properties and functionality. At the same time, the PET-based MAP resulted in a highly brittle material that was unsuitable for reprocessing into similar economic value products. The secondary material from the PP-based MAP was successfully manufactured into films, demonstrating the functional possibility of closed-loop recycling. The transition from a linear to a circular economy for MAP is currently still limited by safety concerns due to a lack of sufficient and efficient purification methods, but the proper design of multilayers for recyclability is a first step towards circularity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Seier
- Institute of Materials Science and Technology, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Thomas Koch
- Institute of Materials Science and Technology, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernadette Duscher
- Borealis Polyolefine GmbH, Innovation Headquarters, St. Peter Str. 25, 4021 Linz, Austria
| | - Markus Gahleitner
- Borealis Polyolefine GmbH, Innovation Headquarters, St. Peter Str. 25, 4021 Linz, Austria
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2
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Elaboration of porosity for the alumina particle surfaces/ bimodal
PP
composite cast films under continuous stretching. J Appl Polym Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/app.50842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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3
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Tian B, Li J, Li Z, Dong W, Zhang N, Zhao H, Liu Y, Di M. Preparation of polypropylene with high melt strength by wet reaction blending of lignin. J Appl Polym Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/app.51224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Tian
- Heilongjiang Institute of Atomic Energy Harbin PR China
- Key Laboratory of Bio‐Based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education) Northeast Forestry University Harbin PR China
| | - Jinfeng Li
- Heilongjiang Institute of Atomic Energy Harbin PR China
| | - Zhigang Li
- Heilongjiang Institute of Atomic Energy Harbin PR China
| | - Wei Dong
- Institute of Radiation Medicine China Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College Tianjin PR China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Heilongjiang Institute of Atomic Energy Harbin PR China
| | - Hongtao Zhao
- Heilongjiang Institute of Atomic Energy Harbin PR China
| | - Yuguang Liu
- Heilongjiang Institute of Atomic Energy Harbin PR China
| | - Mingwei Di
- Key Laboratory of Bio‐Based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education) Northeast Forestry University Harbin PR China
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4
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Stanic S, Koch T, Schmid K, Knaus S, Archodoulaki VM. Improving Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Various Virgin and Recycled Polypropylenes by Blending with Long-Chain Branched Polypropylene. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:1137. [PMID: 33918300 PMCID: PMC8038188 DOI: 10.3390/polym13071137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Blends of two long-chain branched polypropylenes (LCB-PP) and five linear polypropylenes (L-PP) were prepared in a single screw extruder at 240 °C. The two LCB-PPs were self-created via reactive extrusion at 180 °C by using dimyristyl peroxydicarbonate (PODIC C126) and dilauroyl peroxide (LP) as peroxides. For blending two virgin and three recycled PPs like coffee caps, yoghurt cups and buckets with different melt flow rate (MFR) values were used. The influence of using blends was assessed by investigating the rheological (dynamic and extensional rheology) and mechanical properties (tensile test and impact tensile test). The dynamic rheology indicated that the molecular weight as well as the molecular weight distribution could be increased or broadened. Also the melt strength behavior could be improved by using the two peroxide modified LCB-PP blends on the basis of PODIC C126 or PEROXAN LP (dilauroyl peroxide). In addition, the mechanical properties were consistently enhanced or at least kept constant compared to the original material. In particular, the impact tensile strength but also the elongation at break could be increased considerably. This study showed that the blending of LCB-PP can increase the investigated properties and represents a promising option, especially when using recycled PP, which demonstrates a real "up-cycling" process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Stanic
- Institute of Materials Science and Technology, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (T.K.); (V.-M.A.)
| | - Thomas Koch
- Institute of Materials Science and Technology, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (T.K.); (V.-M.A.)
| | - Klaus Schmid
- Pergan GmbH, Schlavenhorst 71, 46395 Bocholt, Germany;
| | - Simone Knaus
- Institute of Applied Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Vasiliki-Maria Archodoulaki
- Institute of Materials Science and Technology, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (T.K.); (V.-M.A.)
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5
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Tian B, Li J, Li Z, Xu N, Yao G, Zhang N, Dong W, Liu Y, Di M. Synergistic lignin construction of a long-chain branched polypropylene and its properties. RSC Adv 2020; 10:38120-38127. [PMID: 35515157 PMCID: PMC9057192 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra06889f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In light of current environmental pressures (referring to its destruction) and the consumption of petrochemical resources, the substitution of chemicals products with renewable natural substances has attracted extensive interest. In this paper, a synergistically constructed lignin polypropylene matrix composite with long-chain branched characteristics was prepared by a pre-irradiation and melt blending method. The effects of lignin on the crystallization, rheological behavior, foaming and aging properties of polypropylene were studied. Differential scanning calorimetry and polarized light microscopy results show that lignin undergoes heterophasic nucleation in a polypropylene matrix; rheological studies show that lignin promotes the formation of a heterogeneous polypropylene network, and thus polypropylene exhibits long-chain branching features; nucleation and a network structure endow the polypropylene-based composites with uniform cell size, thin cell walls, and a foaming ratio of 5–44 times; at the same time, a large number of hindered phenols in lignin can capture free radicals to improve the aging properties of the polypropylene. This research will help to convert industrial waste into functional composite materials. Polypropylene with long chain branching behavior was constructed by lignin, which foaming property and polarity were improved.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Tian
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), Northeast Forestry University Harbin 150040 China .,Institute of Technical Physics, Heilongjiang Academy of Science Harbin 150086 P. R. China
| | - Jinfeng Li
- Institute of Technical Physics, Heilongjiang Academy of Science Harbin 150086 P. R. China
| | - Zhigang Li
- Institute of Technical Physics, Heilongjiang Academy of Science Harbin 150086 P. R. China
| | - Ningdi Xu
- Harbin Institute of Technology Harbin P. R. China
| | - Gang Yao
- Institute of Technical Physics, Heilongjiang Academy of Science Harbin 150086 P. R. China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Institute of Technical Physics, Heilongjiang Academy of Science Harbin 150086 P. R. China
| | - Wei Dong
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, China Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College Tianjin 300192 P. R. China
| | - Yuguang Liu
- Institute of Technical Physics, Heilongjiang Academy of Science Harbin 150086 P. R. China
| | - Mingwei Di
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Based Material Science and Technology (Ministry of Education), Northeast Forestry University Harbin 150040 China
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6
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Stanic S, Gottlieb G, Koch T, Göpperl L, Schmid K, Knaus S, Archodoulaki VM. Influence of Different Types of Peroxides on the Long-Chain Branching of PP via Reactive Extrusion. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:E886. [PMID: 32290464 PMCID: PMC7240374 DOI: 10.3390/polym12040886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-chain branching (LCB) is known as a suitable method to increase the melt strength behavior of linear polypropylene (PP), which is a fundamental weakness of this material. This enables the modification of various properties of PP, which can then be used-in the case of PP recyclates-as a practical "upcycling" method. In this study, the effect of five different peroxides and their effectiveness in building LCB as well as the obtained mechanical properties were studied. A single screw extruder at different temperatures (180 and 240 °C) was used, and long-chain branched polypropylene (PP-LCB) was prepared via reactive extrusion by directly mixing the peroxides. The peroxides used were dimyristyl peroxydicarbonate (PODIC C126), tert-butylperoxy isopropylcarbonate (BIC), tert-Butylperoxy 2-ethylhexyl carbonate (BEC), tert-amylperoxy 2-ethylhexylcarbonate (AEC), and dilauroyl peroxide (LP), all with a concentration of 20 mmol/kg. The influence of the temperature on the competitive prevalent reactions of degradation and branching was documented via melt mass-flow rate (MFR), rheology measurements, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). However, via extensional rheology, strain hardening could be observed in all cases and the mechanical properties could be maintained or even improved. Particularly, PODIC C126 and LP signaled a promising possibility for LCB in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Stanic
- Institute of Material Science and Technology, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gergö Gottlieb
- Institute of Material Science and Technology, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Koch
- Institute of Material Science and Technology, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Göpperl
- Institute of Chemical Technology of Organic Materials, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Klaus Schmid
- Pergan GmbH, Schlavenhorst 71, 46395 Bocholt, Germany
| | - Simone Knaus
- Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
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