Water-assisted melt processing of cellulose biocomposites with poly(ε-caprolactone) or poly(ethylene-acrylic acid) for the production of carton screw caps
Journal article, 2022

Composites in 25 kg batches were compounded of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and thermomechanical pulp (TMP) and shaped into caps at industrial facilities on a pilot-plant scale. Some of the material was also injection molded into plaques to compare the effect of laboratory-scale and pilot-scale compounding of poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) (EAA7) and poly(caprolactone) composites reinforced with 10 wt% CNC and TMP. The materials compounded under laboratory-scale conditions showed a different morphology, improved mechanical properties, and a higher viscosity, than the materials compounded on a pilot-scale. In some cases, the rheological properties of the melts indicated the presence of a relatively strong percolating cellulosic network, and the interphase region between the cellulose and the matrix appears to be important for the mechanical performance of the composites. After the compounding on a pilot scale, both the length and width of the pulp fibers was reduced. The TMP provided better reinforcement than the CNC possibly due to the higher aspect ratio.

thermoplastics

cellulose and other wood products

mechanical properties

composites

manufacturing

Author

Abhijit Venkatesh

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Engineering Materials

Lilian Forsgren

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Engineering Materials

Angelica Avella

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Engineering Materials

Karl Banke

Polykemi

Jan Wahlberg

Tetra Pak

Fabiola Vilaseca

University of Girona

Giada Lo Re

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Engineering Materials

Antal Boldizar

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Engineering Materials

Journal of Applied Polymer Science

0021-8995 (ISSN) 1097-4628 (eISSN)

Vol. 139 6 51615

Subject Categories

Polymer Chemistry

Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology

Polymer Technologies

DOI

10.1002/app.51615

More information

Latest update

1/19/2022