Technology for manufacturing of extrusion blown hybrid film from polybutylene succinate-co-butylene adipate, chitosan and organically modified nanoclay in a single stage process

Jānis Zicāns, Remo Merijs-Meri, Tatjana Ivanova, Ivans Bočkovs, Juris Bitenieks

Description of the Technology

The technology for manufacturing of extrusion blown hybrid film from PBSA, OMNC and C98 or C98M in a single stage process was developed. PBSA was used as suitable biobased and biodegradable matrix with sufficient deformability and suitable melt processing window (ca 100^oC – 160^oC). To ensure antimicrobial properties, chitosan additives with high deacetylation degree but different molecular weights C98M (high Mw) or C98 (ultra-low Mw) were used. To improve rheological behavior, ensure increased thermal stability and mechanical strength alkyl quaternary ammonium salt modified Nanomer nanoclay OMNC were used. Based on preliminary research it was established that minimum content of chitosan additive for ensuring antimicrobial properties is 7 wt.%, whereas optimal OMNC content varies in between 1-3 wt.%. 

In the framework of the project single step technology was developed for manufacturing of extrusion blown films from PBSA composites with suitable chitosan additive (C98M or C98) and OMNC. The single step manufacturing route was based on following technological phases:

• mechanical mixing of dried ingredients (PBSA pellets, OMNC powder and C98M or C98 powders) at certain proportionality ratios to obtain following mechanical mixtures: PBSA+7wt.%C98M+1wt.%OMNC; PBSA+7wt.%C98M+3wt.%OMNC; PBSA+7wt.%C98+1wt.%OMNC; PBSA+7wt.%C98+3wt.%OMNC by using dry Z-type mixer;
• melt compounding of the obtained mechanical mixtures using twin-screw extruder Maxi20 Compounder (LabTech Engineering Company Ltd., Samutprakarn, Thailand) at following regime:
  • extruder temperature profile from the feed to the die – 70-90-125-130-130-130-130-135-135-135-135-135^oC;
  • extrusion speed – 20 rpm.
• film blowing using flat die and auxiliary film blowing equipment LF-400 (LabTech Engineering Company Ltd., Samutprakarn, Thailand) at following regime:
  • flat die temperature - 130^oC;
  • blower speed – 1300 rpm;
  • haul-off speed – 1.1 mm/min.;
  • winder speed – 1.4 mm/min.  

Applications

The technology can be further used for obtaining extrusion blown film of various thicknesses from PBSA compositions with similar amount of chitosan additive and nanoclay.

Advantages

Environmentally friendly material

Keywords

Production of blown hybrid film from polybutylene succinate-cobutylene adipate,chitosan and organically modified nanoclay