The SPE Library contains thousands of papers, presentations, journal briefs and recorded webinars from the best minds in the Plastics Industry. Spanning almost two decades, this collection of published research and development work in polymer science and plastics technology is a wealth of knowledge and information for anyone involved in plastics.
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Various topics related to sustainability in plastics, including bio-related, environmental issues, green, recycling, renewal, re-use and sustainability.
This project aims to investigate the material properties of Polylactic acid (PLA) and to compare them with Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is currently used in retail signage. There problems inherent in changing a process from an established material to a biodegradable polymer. The mechanical properties of PLA are under scrutiny to determine if it can be a reasonable substitute for PVC a non biodegradable plastic that must be land-filled or recycled at considerable cost after its post-consumer use. Many environmentalists suggest that biodegradable plastics can be substituted to fill the same roles as conventional polymers. PLA is a biodegradable polymer that is available in grades that are transparent and are manufacturable in most common thermoplastic processing methods including extrusion. PLAƒ??s substitution for PVC in this application can help to eliminate landfill and reduce overall pollution.
Esther Richards , Reza Rizvi , Andrew Chow , Hani Naguib, May 2010
This paper examines the effect that blending two
biodegradable polymers has on the thermal properties and
morphology of the resultant foams blown with carbon
dioxide (CO2). Polylactic acid (PLA)
Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) and blends of
both were foamed and characterized in terms of thermal
characteristics relative density cell size and foam
morphology. The results indicate that although PLA and
PHBV are immiscible the presence of small quantities of
PHBV could lead to low density foams with finer more
uniform cells.
Sunny Modi , Kurt koelling , Yael Vodovotz, May 2010
PHB (Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) families of naturally occurring polymers are extracted from micro-organisms.PHB behaves similarly to conventional thermoplastics, yet are fully biodegradable in common composting conditions.To improve flexibility for potential food packaging applications, PHB can be synthesized with various copolymers such as 3-hydroxyvalerate (HV). The objective of this study was to characterize the thermal and rheological properties of PHB synthesized with various valerate contents and relate these findings to potential food packaging applications.
Y. Shaked , H. Dodiuk , S. Kenig , C. Schwier , S. McCarthy, May 2010
Poly-Oligomeric-Silsesquioxane POSS nano modifier was examined as a thermal stabilizer for PHB.Melt compounding of Poly-Hydroxy-Butyrate PHB copolymers with different POSS moieties was performed.Reactive and non-reactive POSS nano modifiers were used. The effect of modification on PHB thermal stability was evaluated by changes in rheology and molecular weight. POSS modifiers with unique core-shell structures were found to significantly reduce the loss in molecular weight during melt mixing possibly by decreasing viscous-heating effects.
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) [PET] from off-gradesof industrial manufacturer was depolymerised usingexcess ethylene glycol [EG] in the presence of metalacetate. Influences of the reaction time volume of EG and catalysts concentrations on the yield of theglycolysis products were investigated. In this study wehad three 3-level factors for reaction time volume ofEG and catalysts concentrations on the basis ofTaguchi's statistical method. The optimal conditionsare reaction time of 3 h molar ratio (EG to PET) of 5 weight ratio (catalyst to PET) of 0.25 wt%. Theglycolysis products were analysed for hydroxyl valueand identified by DSC and VPO. The optimum samplewas used to produce unsaturated polyester resin [UPR]by maleic anhydride [MA]. The samples alsocharacterized well by FT-IR 1HNMR and 13CNMR.
The weathering performance of a Lexan* copolycarbonate resin was studied against a benchmark
PC resin. Known ISO, ASTM and SAE weathering
protocols were used and observed differences explained.
Lexan* copolycarbonate resin offers a scratch resistant
polycarbonate solution that opens up new possibilities in
terms of part performance. Key applications range from
mobile phones to interior automotive trims and benefit
from the elimination of secondary operations due to the
increased hardness of the material. This can lead to costout
opportunities and environmentally friendlier solutions
where conventional protective hard coatings or painted
surfaces are considered.
S.B. Tan, P.R. Hornsby, M. McAfee, M.P. Kearns, M. McCourt, P.R. Hanna, May 2010
The cooling process in conventional rotational
moulding has a relatively long cycle time. It is normally
accomplished by external forced air convection and
external water spray cooling. In some instances, an
evaporative cooler is employed to create atomised fog
external to the mould during the cooling cycle. Internal
water spray cooling is an attractive approach to reduce the
cycle time and enhance the product properties in rotational
moulding. It is shown that water spray cooling of
polymers is affected by water droplet size and water
droplet velocity. This paper outlines an introduction to the
characterisation of water droplets. The effects of these
parameters on water spray cooling of polymers are also
presented, using a purpose built experimental test rig.
With the growing demand for environmentally friendly biorenewable resources, there has been a parallel growth in the development of bioplastics. These include commercially available starch-derived plastics and plastics derived from renewable oil and proteins. As with any plastic, these new materials must often be joined to produce final products. This paper reviews impulse and ultrasonic welding of PLA as well as friction welding of plant protein-based plastics. It was found that each of these plastics can be welded with weld strengths matching the parent material strengths.
Shaoqin Gong, Srikanth Pilla, Lih-Sheng Turng, Jungjoo Lee, Alireza Javadi, Adam J. Kramschuster, April 2010
Using microcellular injection molding to prepare renewable polymer composites could lead to components with lower cost, improved material properties, and an extended range of applications.
This paper presents the latest MSS optical sorting technology that can be used for an exciting array of
new application due to new high-resolution NIR, color and metal sensors. From post-consumer to durable
engineering plastics and electronic scrap this new high-resolution technology will advance the separation
of even highly complex mixtures to the next level. A series of different applications will be discussed in
detail.
Nikolas Kaprinidis, Hung Pham and Johanne Wilson, March 2010
Very often plastics manufacturers utilize scratch and mar additives to reduce the occurrence of surface defects. This
paper shows that a scratch additive SM1 can be used in a talc filled 100% recycled TPO in order to enable it to meet
these stringent scratch standards and therefore be implemented into automotive applications.
J.A. Colwill, E.I. Wright, A.J. Clegg, S. Rahimifard1, N.L.Thomas, B. Haworth, March 2010
Oil-derived plastics have become well established as a
packaging material over the past 75 years due to their
many technical and commercial advantages. However,
the disposal of plastic packaging waste, a large proportion
of which still goes to landfill, continues to raise increasing
environmental concerns. Meanwhile, the price of oil
continues to rise as demand outstrips supply. In response,
biodegradable polymers made from renewable resources
have risen to greater prominence, with a variety of
materials currently being developed from plant starch,
cellulose, sugars and proteins.
Whilst the polymer science continues apace, the real
ecological impacts and benefits of these materials remain
uncertain. Although life cycle assessment (LCA) has
been used to provide comparisons with oil-derived
plastics, published studies are often limited in scope,
allowing the validity of their conclusions to be challenged.
The literature appears to support the popular assumption
that the end-of-life management of these materials
requires little consideration, since their biodegradable
properties provide inherent ecological benefits.
Opportunities for conserving resources through the
recycling of biopolymers are rarely addressed.
Through a review of current academic, industrial and
commercial progress in the field of biopolymers, a
number of LCA case studies are proposed which will
address this weakness in existing research, related to the
recycling of biopolymers. These, or similar, studies are
required to provide a more complete picture of the
potential effects of a transition from non-renewable to
renewable polymers, thus allowing material selection
decisions to be made with greater confidence throughout
the packaging supply chain.
Many factors influence the ability to produce a good quality, low density foam. Physical
factors include proper cell nucleation; melt strength, viscosity, molecular weight and
solubility of the gases generated by the chemical blowing agent in the polymer to name a
few. There are also outside limiting factors that include regulations around some
physical blowing agents’ global warming potential, which can lead to expensive
equipment retrofits. Foaming PLA is particularly challenging due to its poor melt
strength. The addition of low percentages of an acrylic melt strength enhancer increases
the extensional viscosity of the PLA allowing the gases generated by the chemical
blowing agents to form a more uniform foam structure. Chemical blowing agents were
chosen as an option to reduce global warming potential without the need for changes to
the existing equipment. This paper focuses on the optimum levels of melt strength
enhancers in conjunction with various chemical blowing agents to achieve a low density
foam with fine cell structure.
Fabrication and evaluation of biodegradable materials from natural resources have attracted
significant attention because of sustainability and dwindling petroleum reserves. This research
focused on fabricating biodegradable composites from natural polymers such as proteins and
describing the properties of plastics made from these biopolymers. Specifically, plastic samples
from partially denatured, animal co-product proteins, such as feathermeal and bloodmeal,
were successfully produced through the compression molding process. The molded bioplastics
demonstrated modulus (stiffness) comparable to commercial synthetic plastics such as
polystyrene, but lacked toughness, which is common among plastics produced from natural
feedstock and/or their byproducts. Therefore, this research used blends of undenatured and
partially denatured proteins to improve toughness. Plastic molding conditions for undenatured
animal proteins, such as chicken egg white albumin and whey, and animal co-product proteins,
such as feathermeal and bloodmeal were experimentally identified in order to prepare their
blends. Plastic samples from these biomacromolecular blends demonstrated improved
mechanical properties. Properties such as modulus, tensile strength, and elongation were also
predicted using theoretical models known for polymer blends and composites.
Merquinsa has developed Pearlthane® ECO, based upon polyols derived from various
plant sources. The driving force to develop this bio TPU was our interest in creating a
more sustainable product offering for companies and brands to choose from. These
products, with very similar thermal, mechanical and rheological behaviour to standard
TPU’s, have been widely accepted in the marketplace and are affording design
engineers performance with sustainability.
Although conceptually it is believed that producing TPU parts from bio based products is
more environmentally friendly, Merquinsa will quantify and compare the greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions to validate this belief with hard science. The quantification of
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production of a product is
commonly referred to as the “carbon footprint”. PAS 2050 is a method prepared by the
BSI British Standards for assessing the product life cycle GHG. For the purpose of this
comparison, the lifecycle is defined as beginning with raw material manufacture, either
from agricultural or petrochemical inputs, through to the delivery at our customer’s
facility. This is commonly referred to as the cradle-to-gate approach. Any process at
customers beyond this point will be similar for the Pearlthane® ECO and standard
Pearlthane® TPU materials.
What is Sustainability
Industry
Sustainability is related to the quality of life in a community, where the economic, social and
environmental systems that make up the community provide a healthy, productive, and
meaningful life for all community residents, present and future.
EPA
“Create and maintain conditions under which [humans] and nature can exist in productive
harmony, and fulfill social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations
of Americans."
The most widely quoted definition internationally is the "Brundtland definition"
“Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs."
Common Approach to Packaging Sustainability
• Materials substitution
• Recyclable, reusable, biodegradable
• Broader view of packaging sustainability
• Cost reduction opportunity
• Greater impact in supply chain
Industry Commitments- The Sustainable Packaging Coalition
Committed to as an inspirational vision for packaging where:
• Material is sourced responsibly
• It is effective and safe through its lifecycle
• Packaging meets market criteria for performance and cost
• It is made entirely using renewable energy
• Once used, it is recycled efficiently
To provide a valuable resource for subsequent generations
David Grewell, Ph.D., Robert Anex, Ph.D., Julius Vogel, March 2010
While the first man-made plastics were derived from biomass resources, they were progressively replaced as of the 1930‟s
by petrochemical polymers. Plastic production and consumption reached approximately 245 million metric tons in 2008
worldwide and is expected to increase with economic growth in developing and emerging countries. With an estimated per
capita plastic consumption of up to 140 kg annually in 2015, Europe and North America will remain the top positions,
while packaging is the largest end use of thermoplastic resins (32%), followed by building and construction applications
(14%), consumer and institutional products (13%) and other application that include medical and recreational products
(14%) in the U.S. [1, 2]. However, these conventional plastics have the disadvantage that they are produced from
diminishing fossil petroleum resources such as gas and petroleum and once they are produced and manufactured into
consumable products they are very resistant to degradation processes which leads to litter problems, injury to wildlife and
disposal may cause environmental damage due to emissions from combustion. Due to these concerns, there has been
increasing interest in bio-based plastics. In principle, biodegradable polymers and plastics can also be manufactured from
petrochemical raw materials. However, bio-based plastics, are defined here as plastics that are fully or partially produced
from renewable feedstock. Biodegradable bio-based plastics in particular have the potential to replace traditional plastics in
applications ranging from packaging, to disposable road signs, to drug delivery, while they do not significantly impact the
environment.
However, because plastic waste significantly contributes to pollution and consumes landfill space, removal and disposal is
an important step in the lifecycle of plastic products. The disposal costs of plastic material include the costs to remove the
final product from the consumer and the costs of waste abatement. This paper will present all commonly used end product
treatment options of plastic waste and introduce a method to calculate their beneficial as well as non beneficial effects in
terms of energy consumption, emissions generation and financial costs.
Too often, we think of packaging as waste and as something that we need to eliminate
altogether. In a global society, where we are becoming more efficient with our food and goods
production, we need to broaden our view of packaging and understand how it, if carefully
designed, can reduce waste. There are more and more choices on the type of packaging for
consumer products including bio-based plastic packaging, recycled content packaging and
compostable materials. How do we then decide what type of packaging to use for our products
and how do we make the best choice for our brands? This discussion will introduce the idea that
packaging can be a waste reducer and present the idea that, in order to truly reduce waste, we
must have a more rigorous understanding of the function of packaging. It will also delve into
alternative end-of-life options that are complimentary to recycling.
A variety of anaerobic landfill microbes are shown to be able to metabolize conventional synthetic
polymer compositions such as PVC plastisol signage film, EVA sheets, and expanded polystyrene and
polyvinyl chloride foam containing BIOchem organotitanate or organozirconate additives that provide
hydrophilic points of attack, but do not catalyze degradation during service in an aerobic environment.
What is claimed is that ordinary commodity plastics such as PVC, PS, PP and EVA can be rendered
landfill biodegradable with as little as 1 phr of the subject additive under anaerobic landfill conditions
while performing equal or better than controls under normal use having aerobic conditions such as
oxygen and light. The technology will be shown to make it possible to render synthetic polymers
sustainable while having inherently more robust properties than biobased polymers. Application
considerations will be presented as to recommended dosages, various additive forms, optimal extrusion
conditions, and possible interference mechanisms with other additives such as zinc based stabilizers
that interfere with the efficiency of the anaerobic microbe’s ability to eat the plastic.
Ananda Ponnusamy, Barry Watson, Dean Eberhardt and Jayme Dood, March 2010
In this World we are facing many environmental issues and one of the most visible is plastic solid
waste pollution going into our landfills. Contained in this plastic solid waste feed-stream are
automobile fascias that are not repairable or useable by the primary or secondary markets. These
unusable fascias are presently being collected by MRC Polymers. The Fascias are processed to
reclaim the thermoplastic raw material. The thermoplastic is then compounded into pellets to
meet the customer’s requirement for various applications.
The process includes sorting where the material is segregated into different types of plastics.
Then the sorted parts are reduced in size through a shredding and grinding process. Following
the size reduction, the material is passed through a non-chemical washing process to remove
paint from the fascia regrind. Then the washed regrind is transferred to be compounded into
various products. In the compounding process, the properties of the product are improved by
utilizing additives when necessary. The final compounded plastic resin enables molders to produce
first quality products. This recycled product replaces virgin thermoplastic resin providing a cost
savings, reducing the use of energy, and lowering the landfill waste.
MRC will present an overview of this process of Sorting, Grinding, Washing and Compounding
and its application in automotive industry. MRC will also show the property improvement
throughout the process that meets the customer requirement for a specific application.
Any article that is cited in another manuscript or other work is required to use the correct reference style. Below is an example of the reference style for SPE articles:
Brown, H. L. and Jones, D. H. 2016, May.
"Insert title of paper here in quotes,"
ANTEC 2016 - Indianapolis, Indiana, USA May 23-25, 2016. [On-line].
Society of Plastics Engineers
Available: www.4spe.org.
Note: if there are more than three authors you may use the first author's name and et al. EG Brown, H. L. et al.
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