Omar Khalid
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a popular material for 3D printing due to its low melting point, high strength, low thermal expansion, and good layer adhesion. However, its applications are limited by its low ductility and impact strength. To enhance its ductility, different plasticizers can be added to the PLA polymer. Various plasticizers such as epoxidized soybean oil, polyethylene glycol, Liquidambar Orientalis oil, tributyl citrate, and acetyl tributyl citrate have been found to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of PLA. The choice of plasticizer depends on the desired characteristics and specific application of the PLA filament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plasticizers | Tributyl citrate, acetyl tributyl citrate, epoxidized soybean oil, polyethylene glycol, epoxidized palm oil, Liquidambar Orientalis oil, egg yolk oil, glycerol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 400 |
| Plasticizer function | Plasticizers lower the glass transition temperature, entering the space between polymer chains, reducing the energy for molecular mobility and lowering the glass transition temperature |
| Pros | PLA is a popular material due to its economic production from renewable resources, possibility for compostable products, low melting point, high strength, low thermal expansion, good layer adhesion, good intra-layer bonding, wide temperature tolerance, and ease of use for beginners |
| Cons | PLA is brittle, has poor heat resistance, poor water resistance, poor chemical resistance, poor abrasion resistance, poor impact strength, and poor ductility |
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What You'll Learn
Epoxidized soybean oil is a suitable plasticizer for PLA
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biopolymer with applications in numerous sectors due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, its brittleness limits its use in industries that require plastic deformation at high impact rates or high elongation, such as flexible food packaging. To overcome this drawback, researchers have explored the use of plasticizers to enhance the flexibility and toughness of PLA.
Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) has emerged as a suitable plasticizer for PLA. It is a vegetable oil-based plasticizer that has been successfully used in various concentrations in PLA to improve its mechanical properties. The addition of ESO to PLA increases the elongation at break, indicating enhanced flexibility and plastic deformation. Furthermore, ESO exhibits superior compatibility with the polylactic acid matrix, making it a preferred choice over other vegetable oils.
The use of ESO as a plasticizer in PLA also has environmental benefits. Both PLA and ESO are designed for biodegradation, ensuring sustainable production and protecting natural ecosystems. The combination of ESO with PLA results in a promising material for the production of green, flexible food packaging with low acoustic noise levels. This contributes to sustainable development goals by promoting sustainable production and helping to address food security challenges.
In addition to its mechanical and environmental advantages, ESO offers other benefits when used as a plasticizer in PLA. It improves the ductility and toughness of PLA, making it more suitable for 3D printing applications. The lubricating effect of ESO allows for more sustainable extrusion at lower temperatures, preventing the degradation of PLA and reducing energy consumption.
Overall, epoxidized soybean oil is a suitable plasticizer for PLA. It enhances the flexibility, toughness, and ductility of PLA while maintaining its biodegradability. The compatibility of ESO with PLA, along with its environmental benefits, makes it a promising choice for industries seeking sustainable solutions without compromising on performance. Further research and development in this area continue to explore the potential of ESO in expanding the applications of PLA.
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Glycerol is a plasticizer used in PLA filament
The use of plasticizers in PLA filaments offers several advantages. Firstly, plasticizers can reduce the glass transition temperature of the PLA polymer, making it more flexible and easier to process. This is particularly beneficial for 3D printing, as it allows for greater ease in creating complex shapes. Plasticizers also improve the ductility and impact strength of PLA, which are otherwise limited. This enhancement in ductility is a result of the plasticizer entering the space between the polymer chains, reducing the energy required for molecular mobility.
Glycerol, in combination with other plasticizers, has been studied for its effects on wood flour-poly(lactic acid) 3D printing filaments. These studies have shown that glycerol improves the extrusion processing of the composite filaments, making it a preferred choice over other plasticizers. However, in terms of compatibility, mechanical properties, water absorption, and thermal stability, other plasticizers like TBC may outperform glycerol.
The addition of glycerol as a plasticizer in PLA filaments can be done through various methods, including during the extrusion process when the polymer is molten. It can also be added through a solvent-based approach, but this requires careful consideration to ensure the plasticizer does not evaporate with the solvent. The specific method of addition may depend on the desired application and the combination of plasticizers being used.
Overall, glycerol plays a significant role as a plasticizer in PLA filaments, particularly in the 3D printing industry. Its ability to enhance extrusion processing makes it a valuable additive, improving the performance and processability of PLA composite materials. However, the choice of plasticizer depends on the specific requirements of the application, as other plasticizers may offer superior performance in certain aspects such as compatibility and thermal stability.
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Tributyl citrate is a plasticizer for PLA
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic that can be produced from renewable resources. It is one of the most commercially available biopolymers in different industries. However, its low ductility and impact strength limit its application in the 3D printing field. To enhance the ductility of PLA filaments, different plasticizers can be added to the PLA polymer. One such plasticizer is tributyl citrate (TbC).
Tributyl citrate is a substance that has proven successful as a plasticizer for PLA. It is a citric acid ester, and when used in a concentration of 30 to 40%, it can effectively plasticize PLA in the melt. Tributyl citrate oligomers can be synthesized by transesterification of tributyl citrate and diethylene glycol (DEG). These oligomers have been investigated for their dynamic mechanical and thermal properties when blended with PLA. The results show that tributyl citrate and its oligomers decrease the glass transition temperature of PLA, with the greatest reduction observed with the plasticizer having the lowest molecular weight.
The addition of tributyl citrate to PLA improves the flexibility and ductility of the polymer. It lowers the glass transition temperature by entering the space between the polymer chains, thereby reducing the energy for molecular mobility. This results in a more homogeneous and flexible material. The use of tributyl citrate also improves the compatibility, mechanical properties, water absorption, and thermal stability of 3D printing filaments.
In one study, wood flour-poly(lactic acid) 3D printing filaments were prepared using poplar wood flour and PLA as raw materials. Tributyl citrate was used as a plasticizer, and the filaments were printed using a 3D printer at a temperature of 220 °C. The results showed that the 3D printing filaments with 4% tributyl citrate exhibited better performance in terms of compatibility, mechanical properties, water absorption, and thermal stability compared to other plasticizer combinations.
In another study, acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) was used as a plasticizer for PLA/tapioca blends. The addition of ATBC improved the ductility of PLA and reduced its melting point and glass-transition temperature. The results revealed that excessive plasticizer caused the migration of ATBC and decreased the tensile properties. Overall, tributyl citrate is a suitable plasticizer for PLA, improving its flexibility, ductility, and compatibility for various applications.
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Liquidambar Orientalis oil is a natural, renewable plasticizer for PLA
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a brittle biodegradable thermoplastic with a high glass transition temperature (Tg) of around 60 °C. This limits its use in flexible applications, such as packaging films. To address this limitation, researchers have explored the use of plasticizers, which are additives that reduce the glass transition temperature and increase the flexibility of polymers.
Liquidambar Orientalis (LO) oil, derived from the Liquidambar Orientalis tree, has been recently introduced as a natural, renewable, and environmentally friendly plasticizer for PLA. LO oil is non-toxic and has been shown to successfully produce flexible PLA parts while improving its thermal and physical properties. The oil is incorporated into PLA through melt compounding (MC) and solution mixing (SM) methods, with the amount of oil added ranging from 10 to 30 phr.
The addition of LO oil to PLA has been found to significantly reduce the glass transition temperature and storage modulus (E') value, resulting in improved flexibility and processability. This effect is attributed to the oil's ability to reduce the strong hydrogen bonds and secondary interactions between PLA chains. Furthermore, LO oil consists primarily of aromatic compounds, mainly derivatives of styrene and cinnamates, which contribute to its effectiveness as a plasticizer.
The use of LO oil as a plasticizer in PLA not only enhances its flexibility but also imparts antibacterial properties when combined with nanocomposites such as 2D graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and Ag nanoparticles. This makes it suitable for applications such as wound dressing materials, where flexibility and antibacterial properties are essential.
In conclusion, Liquidambar Orientalis oil is a natural, renewable, and environmentally friendly plasticizer for PLA, offering improved flexibility, processability, and thermal and physical properties. Its non-toxic nature and ability to reduce the glass transition temperature make it a promising alternative to traditional petrochemical-based plasticizers, contributing to the development of sustainable and biodegradable composite materials.
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Polyethylene glycol is a plasticizer used in PLA
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a commonly used plasticizer in polylactic acid (PLA) that helps improve its flexibility, processability, and biodegradability. The addition of PEG addresses key limitations of PLA, such as its inherent stiffness and brittleness, making it more versatile and suitable for a broader range of applications.
PEG is an efficient plasticizer for PLA due to its broad range of molecular weights, non-toxicity, miscibility, and biodegradability. By chemically bonding PEG molecules to PLA through reactive extrusion, the interaction between the two materials is enhanced, resulting in improved mechanical properties, durability, and usability. This process also reduces the tendency of PEG to migrate within the PLA matrix.
The incorporation of PEG as a plasticizer increases the chain mobility of PLA, improving its ductility and drawability. This modification leads to a ductile fracture, a decrease in melt temperature (Tm) and glass transition temperature (Tg), and an increase in the degree of crystallization (χc), indicating enhanced flexibility. Additionally, the polarity of the PEG-plasticized PLA increases, while the surface free energy decreases.
PEG-based plasticizers in PLA have been studied in the context of enhancing polylactic acid films. The use of PEG substantially raises the elongation at break of PLA while preserving satisfactory tensile strength. This improvement broadens the industrial applicability of PLA, especially in food-contact applications. Furthermore, PEG plasticizers can enhance the thermal stability of PLA, with degradation temperatures rising from 268.7 °C in PLA-PEG to 333.8 °C in PLA-DCP systems.
In summary, polyethylene glycol is a highly effective plasticizer used in PLA to enhance its flexibility, processability, and range of applications. The modification of PLA with PEG improves its mechanical properties and durability, making it a versatile material for various industrial uses.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several plasticizers that can be used in PLA filament, including epoxidized soybean oil, polyethylene glycol, tributyl citrate, and Liquidambar Orientalis oil.
Plasticizers are used to improve the ductility, flexibility, and toughness of PLA. They can also enhance softness and strain, as well as improve interfacial bonding.
Plasticizers lower the glass transition temperature of PLA, reducing the energy required for molecular mobility and making the material more flexible.
Some specific plasticizers used in PLA filament include epoxidized soybean oil, polyethylene glycol (PEG), tributyl citrate (TBC), ethylene glycol, glycerol, and Liquidambar Orientalis (LO) oil.
Yes, there are several eco-friendly and biodegradable plasticizers that can be used in PLA filament. These include epoxidized soybean oil, Liquidambar Orientalis oil, and bio-based dicarboxylic acid esters.
