Polypropylene (PP) has excellent mechanical and chemical properties. Thus, it is used in a wide range of applications. However, like for most polymers, the high flammability of PP limits its application in various fields requiring specific flame-retardant standards. Some of halogenated flame retardants are restricted by European Community directives ROHs, WEEE and REACH. Now metallic hydroxides flame retardants are widely used in industry, but the high loading (about 60 wt %) seriously destroys the mechanical properties of polymeric materials. To improve the performance of flame retardant polymers, an environment-friendly electron beam (EB) technology has been successfully used in modifying flame retardant and polymer matrix. In this work, high efficient functional intumescent flame retardants and functional surfactant are designed and prepared for EB technology. In-depth studies the thermal stability, fire behavior and mechanical properties of these flame retardant PP composites have been studied. The possible graft-linking and cross-linking mechanisms of such EB modified composites can be well established. Specially, it is shown that the novel surfactant has better thermal stability in comparison to traditionally used modifiers. Another part of this work deals with the exploration of novel allylamine polyphosphate (AAPP) as flame retardant crosslinker for PP by electron beam (EB) treatment. Multifunctional AAPP showed unique efficient intumescent flame retardant properties. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) value and the effective melt drop resistance in UL-94 test of multifunctional flame retardant PP composites is greatly enhanced. In the cone calorimeter test, a reduction of peak heat release rate, total heat release and smoke production is achieved. Moreover, EB treatment increased the thermal stability of these designed flame retardant PP composites. Furthermore, AAPP provided an excellent quality of char residue in the combustion stage due to P−N−C and P−O−C structure. In addition, synergistic mechanism of AAPP with montmorillonite (MMT) was explored. Finally, different EB parameters have been used to modify fire retardant polymer nanocomposites. The effects of EB treatment on thermal stability, fire behavior and mechanical properties of fire retardant PP nanocomposites have been discussed. The heat release, the production of toxic gases and the mass loss of EB modified fire retardant PP nanocomposites are delayed in accordance to the result of cone calorimeter test. Based on these results high performance fire retardant polymer nanocomposites can be developed for industrial applications such as insulated material of wire, cable, etc.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第23183号 / 工博第4827号 / 新制||工||1754(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市環境工学専攻 / (主査)教授 酒井 伸一, 教授 田中 宏明, 准教授 平井 康宏 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

E PVC est l'un des polymères les plus employés dans les matériaux actuels et l'adjonction de plastifiants permet de modifier ses propriétés (température de transition vitreuse, module…) permettant ainsi l'utilisation de ce polymères dans des applications où de la souplesse est requise (textiles enduits, par exemple). Actuellement, les phtalates sont les plastifiants les plus utilisés même s'ils sont de plus en plus décriés du fait de leur toxicité. Le développement de nouveaux agents plastifiants est un domaine de recherches intenses et les matières premières bio-sourcées s'avèrent être une alternative intéressante aux plastifiants pétro-sourcés. Le travail de cette thèse se propose d'investiguer le développement de plastifiants du PVC bio-sourcés de type lipidique possédant de surcroit des propriétés ignifugeantes évitant ainsi l'ajout d'additifs supplémentaires dans les formulations de PVC devant résister au feu. Dans un premier temps, l'oléate, le linoléate de méthyle et le diacide (D18 : 1) ont été fonctionnalisés par modification chimique de leurs groupements ester et/ou de leurs insaturations pour mener à des dérivés lipidiques phosphorés. Cinq candidats plastifiants bio-sourcés ont ainsi pu être synthétisés et le scale up de la synthèse de l'un des candidats à l'échelle du kilogramme a pu être réalisé dans le cadre de cette thèse. Dans un deuxième temps, des tests de plastification du PVC avec divers candidats ont été réalisés en collaboration avec la société Serge FERRARI. L'étude des propriétés thermiques, mécaniques et thermomécaniques des films de PVC plastifiés obtenus, comparativement au plastifiant phtalate DINP et au plastifiant bio-sourcé commercial RADIA 7295, a permis d'éliminer différents candidats pour n'en finalement retenir que deux. Des profils de dégradation thermique satisfaisants, des basses valeurs de Tg, des allongements à la rupture importants (320 et 365 % respectivement) et proches de ceux obtenus avec le DINP, ont confirmé l'efficacité plastifiante de ces deux composés phosphorés bio-sourcés. Les tests au feu LOI et au cône calorimètre ont également prouvé le caractère ignifugeant de ces deux composés qui conduisent à des résultats du même ordre de grandeur que ceux atteints avec le plastifiant phosphonate commercial de référence S141 / Poly(vinyl chloride) is one of the most manufactured and consumed thermoplastics in the world. The addition of plasticizers allows modifying its properties (glass transition temperature, modulus…) and then to use this polymer for applications where flexibility is needed (coated textiles, for instance). Nowadays, phthalates are the main candidates for PVC even if they have been more and more controversed due to their possible toxicity. To substitute these petro-based plasticizers, researches are focused on alternative plasticizers based on bio-based raw materials. This PhD work proposes to investigate the development of new bio-based plasticizers for PVC, from lipidic derivatives, and having simultaneously flame retardant properties, avoiding the addition of any other additives in PVC during compounding. In the first part, methyl oleate, methyl linoleate and diacid D18 : 1 have been functionalized by modification of their ester groups and/or their doubles bonds to give phosphorylated lipidic derivatives. Thus, five bio-based plasticizers have been synthesized and the synthesis of one candidate on the scale of the kilogram has been successfully performed during this PhD work. Secondly, the plasticizing efficiency of several candidates with PVC has been evaluated in collaboration an industrial company. Thermal, mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the obtained soft PVC films were studied, in comparison with those obtained with the phthalate plasticizer DINP and the commercial bio-based plasticizer RADIA 7295. These analyses allowed the disposal of some of the bio-based plasticizers to finally keep only two candidates. Satisfying thermal degradation profiles, low Tg, and important elongation at break values (320 % and 365 % respectively) close to those obtained with DINP, confirmed the plasticizing efficiency of these two bio-based phosphorylated plasticizers. Fire tests like the LOI test and the cone calorimeter also proved the flame retardant properties of these two candidates, leading to similar results than the ones reached with the phosphonate plasticizer S141

No description available.

Das Schilddrüsenhormon Triiodthyronin (T3) ist ein essenzieller Regulator physiologischer Prozesse der Entwicklung, des Wachstums und im Intermediärstoffwechsel. Täglich werden zahlreiche natürliche und synthetische Stoffe aufgenommen, die mit dem endokrinen System interferieren und deshalb als Endokrine Disruptoren (ED) bezeichnet werden. Zur Untersuchung einer direkten Interferenz von ED mit den Schilddrüsenhormonrezeptoren (TR) und ihrer transkriptionellen Aktivität wurde im Rahmen dieser Arbeit ein neues Luziferase-basiertes T3 Reportergensystem mit TRalpha1-transfizierten humanen Leberzellen aufgebaut. Durch Validierung mit dem synthetischen TR-Agonisten GC-1 und dem Antagonisten NH-3 konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass dieser Assay ein hoch-sensitives System zur Analyse von agonistischen sowie antagonistischen Effekten von Testsubtanzen darstellt. Zur Bestimmung der endokrinen Aktivitäten einiger humanrelevanter Vertreter aus den Stoffkategorien der Nahrungsmittel, Kosmetika, Pestizide und Industriechemikalien wurden Dosis-Wirkungskurven in Aktivierungs- und T3-Kompetitionsexperimenten ermittelt. In mikromolaren Konzentrationen wirkten von insgesamt 21 Testsubstanzen einige als reine Agonisten oder Antagonisten während andere gemischt agonistische/antagonistische Effekte hatten. Aufgrund ihrer hier beobachteten Effekte und der gegebenen Humanexposition wird eine eingehendere Analyse von 4-Methylbenzyliden Campher, 4-Nonylphenol, Acetochlor, Benzophenon 2, Benzophenon 3, Bisphenol A, Genistein, Octylmethoxycinnamat, Tetrabromobisphenol A und Xanthohumol empfohlen. Außerdem erwiesen sich einige Metaboliten von Schilddrüsenhormonen als potente Agonisten im T3-Reportergenassay und bedürfen weiterer Aufmerksamkeit. Für die molekulare Charakterisierung der Einflüsse solcher Substanzen auf die T3-regulierte Transaktivierung konnte mit dem hier etablierten Bioassay ein zuverlässiges neues Testsystem für reproduzierbare Screeningserien geschaffen werden. / Triiodothyronine (T3) is a crucial regulator of many physiological processes during development, growth and metabolism. A variety of natural and synthetic substances, which are collectively termed endocrine disrupters (ED) due to their interference with the endocrine system, is taken up on a daily base. A novel luciferase-based T3-responsive reporter gene system employing a human liver cell line transfected with thyroid hormone receptor (TR) alpha1 was established in this work to elucidate the potential molecular interference of certain ED with TR and their transcriptional activity. This assay was validated to be a highly sensitive and reliable tool for analyzing agonistic and antagonistic effects of test compounds using the synthetic TR agonist GC-1 and the antagonist NH-3. Dose-response data of test compounds contained in food, cosmetics, pesticides, plasticizers and other industrial chemicals were obtained after applying the substances alone in activation assays or in combination with T3 in competition assays. In total 21 test compounds were screened of which some acted as pure agonists or antagonists while others were mixed agonists/antagonists in the micromolar concentration range and only one was without effect. Follow-up studies are recommended for some of these substances with regard to their effects as determined in this bioassay and in light of information known on human exposure, i.e., 4-methylbenzyliden camphor, 4-nonylphenol, acetochlor, benzophenone 2, benzophenone 3, bisphenol A, genistein, octylmethoxycinnamate, tetrabromobisphenol A and xanthohumol. In addition some endogenous metabolites of thyroid hormones were surprisingly potent agonists in the T3 reporter gene assay and merit further attention. The novel bioassay established here represents a reliable tool for the screening and molecular characterization of substances interfering with T3-mediated transactivation of gene expression.

If sufficiently persistent, semi-volatile organic contaminants (SVOCs) can travel long distances through the atmosphere from their points of release and become concentrated in cold, remote regions. As air is sampled for SVOCs to establish both their presence and the success of emission reduction efforts, it becomes helpful to determine sampling site proximity to sources and the origin of the sampled air masses. Comparing three increasingly sophisticated methods for quantifying source proximity of sampling locations, it was judged necessary to account for the actual history of the sampled air through construction of an airshed, especially if wind is highly directional and population distribution is very non-uniform. The airshed concept was improved upon by introducing a ‘geodesic’ grid of equally spaced cells, rather than a simple latitude/longitude grid, to avoid distortion near Earth’s poles and to allow for the comparison of airshed shapes. Assuming that a perfectly round airshed reveals no information about sources allows the significance of each cell of an airshed to be judged based on its departure from roundness. Combining air-mass histories with a 2 year-long series of SVOC air concentrations at Little Fox Lake in Canada’s Yukon Territory did not identify distinct source regions for most analytes, although γ-hexachlorocyclohexane appears to originate broadly in north-eastern Russia and/or Alaska. Based on this remoteness from sources, the site is judged to be well suited to monitor changes in the hemispheric background concentrations of SVOCs. A model-based exploration revealed wet-gaseous deposition as the dominant process responsible for cold-trapping SVOCs in mountain soils. Such cold trapping is particularly effective if precipitation rate increases with altitude and if temperature differences along the mountain are large. Considerable sensitivity of the modeled extent of cold-trapping to parameters as diverse as scale, mean temperature, atmospheric particle concentration and time relative to emission maxima is consistent with the wide variety of observed enrichment behaviour. Concentration gradients of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in air and soil measured on four Western Canadian mountains with variable distance from sources revealed source proximity as the main driver of concentrations at both the whole-mountain scale and along individual mountain transects.

If sufficiently persistent, semi-volatile organic contaminants (SVOCs) can travel long distances through the atmosphere from their points of release and become concentrated in cold, remote regions. As air is sampled for SVOCs to establish both their presence and the success of emission reduction efforts, it becomes helpful to determine sampling site proximity to sources and the origin of the sampled air masses. Comparing three increasingly sophisticated methods for quantifying source proximity of sampling locations, it was judged necessary to account for the actual history of the sampled air through construction of an airshed, especially if wind is highly directional and population distribution is very non-uniform. The airshed concept was improved upon by introducing a ‘geodesic’ grid of equally spaced cells, rather than a simple latitude/longitude grid, to avoid distortion near Earth’s poles and to allow for the comparison of airshed shapes. Assuming that a perfectly round airshed reveals no information about sources allows the significance of each cell of an airshed to be judged based on its departure from roundness. Combining air-mass histories with a 2 year-long series of SVOC air concentrations at Little Fox Lake in Canada’s Yukon Territory did not identify distinct source regions for most analytes, although γ-hexachlorocyclohexane appears to originate broadly in north-eastern Russia and/or Alaska. Based on this remoteness from sources, the site is judged to be well suited to monitor changes in the hemispheric background concentrations of SVOCs. A model-based exploration revealed wet-gaseous deposition as the dominant process responsible for cold-trapping SVOCs in mountain soils. Such cold trapping is particularly effective if precipitation rate increases with altitude and if temperature differences along the mountain are large. Considerable sensitivity of the modeled extent of cold-trapping to parameters as diverse as scale, mean temperature, atmospheric particle concentration and time relative to emission maxima is consistent with the wide variety of observed enrichment behaviour. Concentration gradients of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in air and soil measured on four Western Canadian mountains with variable distance from sources revealed source proximity as the main driver of concentrations at both the whole-mountain scale and along individual mountain transects.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:58:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LucieneMR_DISSERT.pdf: 3721446 bytes, checksum: 16ced8820ae92014f7d8c365770f515c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-11 / In the present research work, composites were prepared using pine apple leaf fibres (PALF) as reinforcement with unsaturated polyester resin as matrix, incorporating with fire retardant at different compositions. The PALF was obtained from the decortication of pine apple leaves obtained from Ramada 4 from Ielmo Marinho in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. The unsaturated polyester resin and the catalyzer were bought from the local establishment. The fire retardant, aluminium tri-hydroxide - Al(OH)3 was donated by Alcoa Alum?nio S.A and was used in the proportions of 20%, 40% and 60% w/w. Initially the fibres were treated with 2% NaOH for 1 hour, to remove any impurities present on the fibre surface, such as wax, fat, pectin and pectate, in order to have a better adsorption of the fibres with the matrix as well as the flame retardant. The fibre mat was prepared in a mat preparator by immersion, developed in the Textile Engineering Laboratory, at the UFRN. The composites (300x300x3 mm) were prepared by compression molding and the samples (150x25x3 mm) for analysis of the properties were cut randomly using a laser cutter. Some of the cut samples were used to measure the smoke emission and fire resistance using UL94 standard. Mechanical tension-extension and flexural properties were carried in CTG?s RN and the Laborat?rio de Metais e Ensaios Mec?nicos Engenharia de Materiais UFRN , as well as SEM studies were carried out at N?cleo de Estudos em Petr?leo e G?s Natural - UFRN . From the observed results, it was noted that, there was no marked influence of the fire retardant on the mechanical properties. Also in the water absorption test, the quantity of water absorbed was less in the sample with higher concentration of fire retardant. It was also observed that the increase in the proportion of the fire retardant increased the time of burning, may be due to the compactness of the composite due to the presence of fire retardant as a filling material even though it was meant to reduce the rate of inflammability of the composite / Na presente pesquisa foram desenvolvidos comp?sitos com fibras da folha do abacaxizeiro (PALF - Pineapple Leaf Fiber), utilizando resina de poli?ster insaturado como matriz, incorporando retardante de chama em diferentes composi??es. As fibras da folha do abacaxizeiro foram obtidas na ramada 4 do munic?pio de Ielmo Marinho no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte. A resina de poli?ster insaturado e o catalisador foram comprados no com?rcio. O retardante de chama de alumina trihidratada (hidr?xido de alum?nio - Al(OH)3) foi doado pela empresa Alcoa Alum?nio S.A. e foi utilizado em propor??es de 20%, 40% e 60% do peso do material utilizado na fabrica??o dos comp?sitos. As PALFs foram tratadas com 2% de hidr?xido de s?dio, por 1 hora, para eliminar as impurezas superficiais tais como ceras, gorduras, pectinas e pectatos, para que houvesse uma melhor ades?o da matriz ?s fibras, bem como do retardante de chama. As mantas de fibras foram preparadas num preparador de manta por imers?o, desenvolvido no Laborat?rio de Engenharia T?xtil da UFRN. Os comp?sitos (300x300x3 mm) foram moldados por compress?o e as amostras (150x25x3 mm) para an?lise das propriedades foram cortadas, em diferentes posi??es da placa do comp?sito com aux?lio de uma m?quina de laser. As propriedades mec?nicas de tra??o e flex?o em tr?s pontos foram realizadas no CTG?s RN e no Laborat?rio de Metais e Ensaios Mec?nicos de Engenharia de Materiais da UFRN. Os testes da emiss?o de fuma?a e resist?ncia ao fogo foram realizados no Laborat?rio de Engenharia T?xtil da UFRN, utilizando a norma UL94. As amostras resultantes das propriedades mec?nicas foram avaliadas no MEV do N?cleo de Estudos em Petr?leo e G?s Natural da UFRN. Com base nas an?lises dos resultados nos ensaios mec?nicos, observou-se que o retardante de chama n?o tem influ?ncia significativa. Tamb?m observou-se que no ensaio de abosor??o de ?gua, quanto maior a concentra??o de retardante de chama, a quantidade de ?gua absorvida ? menor. No teste de inflamabilidade, observou-se que quanto maior a concentra??o de retardante de chama, maior o tempo de queima. Pode ser conclu?do que a presen?a de retardante de chama, al?m de atuar como inibidor de chama, tamb?m atua como uma carga que influ?ncia a compacta??o do comp?sito e desta forma reduz a taxa de queima

L’objectif de cette thèse est de proposer un procédé de recyclage de mélanges ABS-PC issus des Déchets d’Equipements Electriques et Electroniques (DEEE) réels capable de s’affranchir des contraintes liées au recyclage des polymères.Ces contraintes sont liées, entre autre, à la présence d’impuretés (autres polymères) après l'étape de tri et au procédé de remise en forme. L’influence de la présence d’impureté dans un alliage ABS-PC sur ces propriétés mécaniques (résistance au choc et traction) a donc été étudiée en s’appuyant sur des observations morphologiques. Il s’est avéré que la présence d’impureté non miscible conduit à la dégradation des propriétés mécaniques de l’ABS-PC. L’ajout de compatibilisants a été étudié afin de masquer l’effet de l’impureté. Il a ainsi été montré que l’amélioration de la résilience du mélange (ABS-PC/impureté) est intimement liée à la modification de la morphologie et à la nature de l’adhésion aux interfaces. Il a ensuite été constaté que l’optimisation des paramètres de mise en oeuvre engendre une modification de la morphologie. Cette modification peut entrainer une augmentation de la résistance au choc.Ces deux méthodes ont ensuite été appliquées à un mélange d’ABS-PC ignifugé issu des DEEE contenant une impureté. L’ajout de compatibilisant et de la modification des paramètres de mise en oeuvre améliore la résilience. En revanche, cela a un effet néfaste sur le comportement au feu de l’alliage ABS-PC ignifugé. / The aim of this PhD work was to propose a recycling process method of PC-ABS blend from real Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment deposit (WEEE) deposits. This recycling process has to be able to overcome the problematic related to polymer recycling.The main constraints about recycling process are the presence of polymeric impurities after sorting step as well as mechanical reprocessing (extrusion and injection molded). Firstly, the effect of impurities on the mechanical properties (tensile and impact strength) and morphology (SEM, TEM) of PC-ABS blends have been studied. The presence of immiscible impurity deteriorates the mechanical properties of PC-ABS. The addition of an appropriate compatibilizer enhances the interface between PC-ABS and the impurity. The compatibilizer improves the impact strength and changes the morphology of this blend. Secondly, the optimization of injection molding parameters generates a change in morphology. This change leads to an increase of the impact strength.Both methods were applied to a flame retardant PC-ABS from WEEE with an impurity. The addition of a compatibilizer and the modification of injection molding parameters improve the impact strength. The presences of an impurity and a compatibilizer have a negative effect on the flame retardant properties of the PC-ABS blend

Les Déchets d'Equipement Electriques et Electroniques (DEEE) constituent un volume important de déchets dont le constituant majoritaire est l’ABS. C’est pour cela que nous avons travaillé principalement avec des polymères provenant d’un gisement réel (carters d’ordinateurs). Puis, des mélanges ABS/PC ont été élaborés (le PC étant un des constituants d’un gisement de carters), dans le but d’obtenir un matériau avec une résilience au moins équivalente à celle d’un ABS neuf. Même si l’ABS a montré une bonne aptitude à être recyclé seul, après vieillissement et recyclage, sa résilience connaît une chute due à la dégradation de la phase élastomère et à la présence d’ignifugeants. Il est important pour le recyclage de l’ABS et de ses mélanges de séparer les polymères ignifugés de ceux qui ne le sont pas. La voie mélange pour le recyclage de l’ABS par l’ajout de PC a l’avantage de simplifier le tri et de recycler un maximum des polymères présents dans les DEEE. Nous avons tout d’abord réalisé des mélanges ABS/PC neufs pour bénéficier d’une mise en œuvre et d’une composition optimales. L’influence des paramètres du procédé de recyclage (température et vis d’extrusion) et des propriétés des matériaux (taux et viscosité du PC, retardateurs de flamme de l’ABS) sur les propriétés du mélange a été étudiée. Nous avons effectué essentiellement des essais de résistance au choc Charpy et des études morphologiques. Les résultats ont montré qu’une morphologie fibrillaire ou co-continue est favorable à la meilleure résilience des mélanges ABS/PC. Nous avons obtenu pour des mélanges neufs ABS neuf FR/PC neuf réalisés avec 70% d’ABS une résilience supérieure à celle de l’ABS neuf. Mais, à composition égale, ce résultat n’a pas été atteint pour les mélanges majoritaires en ABS recyclé. Souhaitant réaliser des mélanges performants majoritaires en ABS recyclé, la compatibilisation semble nécessaire. Un mélange recyclé majoritaire en ABS, compatibilisé avec du PP-g-MA, est montré plus résilient que l’ABS neuf seul. Toutefois, les compatibilisants ont une efficacité limitée lorsqu’ils sont en présence de retardateurs de flamme ou soumis à un temps de séjour élevé dans la presse à injecter. Nous avons voulu utiliser des nanocharges minérales (montmorillonites), ajoutées en faible quantité, en tant qu'ignifugeants et compatibilisants. Elles se sont avérées inefficaces dans les études préliminaires réalisées. Le choix des nanoargiles minérales doit être optimisé. / WEEE constitute a huge waste volume in which ABS is the major component. So, we focused on polymers from a real deposit (casing of computers); such a deposit contains ABS, PC, PS, ABS-PC. In a first step, recycling of aged ABS was studied. The decrease in the C=C content induces an impact strength drop. Nevertheless, ABS proved to be recyclable given that optimized processing conditions are found. The role of flame retardants was shown to be crucial on the recyclability. Separating polymers with or without flame retardants is the key point of the ABS recycling. However, recycled aged ABS do not recover the impact strength of neat virgin ABS. Then, ABS/PC blends were elaborated in order to obtain a material with an impact strength at least equivalent to the neat ABS. The use of ABS/PC blends for this recycling facilitates the sorting and the utilization of most of WEEE polymers. We first made ABS/PC blends from virgin polymers to have optimal processability and composition. Performing Charpy impact strength tests and morphological studies allowed to evaluate the influence of recycling process parameters (temperature and screw extrusion) and material properties (rate and viscosity of PC and ABS flame retardants). Experimental results indicate that the impact strength of the ABS/PC blends is higher when the morphology is fibrillar or co-continuous. We obtained ABS virgin FR/PC virgin blends (70/30) with an impact strength greater than the neat ABS. But, with equal composition, this result was not reached for the blends. So to achieve reliable blends rich in recycled ABS, compatibilisation is necessary. Recycled ABS/PC blends compatibilised with PP-g-MA is more resilient than the ABS. However, the compatibilising agents have a limited efficiency when they are used in the presence of flame retardants or subjected to a high residence time. Finally, nanoclays were attemptively used as both FR and compatibiliser. Tough they proved uneffective in the very first experiments carried out (the choice of clay need to be optimized).