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Yes / Highly oriented poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) blends were fabricated through solid hot stretching technology in an effort to improve the mechanical properties and blood biocompatibility of PLA as blood-contacting medical devices. It was found that the tensile strength and modulus of the blends can be improved dramatically by stretching. With the increase of draw ratio, the cold crystallization peak became smaller, and the glass transition and the melting peak moved to high temperature, while the crystallinity increased, and the grain size of PLA decreased, indicating of the stress-induced crystallization during drawing. The oriented blends exhibited structures with longitudinal striations which indicate the presence of micro-fibers. TPU phase was finely and homogeneously dispersed in the PLA, and after drawing, TPU domains were elongated to ellipsoid. The introduction of TPU and orientation could enhance the blood compatibility of PLA by prolonging kinetic clotting time, and decreasing hemolysis ratio and platelet activation.

Yes / Highly-oriented poly (lactic acid) (PLA) with bionic fibrillar structure and micro-grooves was fabricated through solid hot drawing technology for further improving the mechanical properties and blood biocompatibility of PLA as blood-contacting medical devices. In order to enhance the melt strength and thus obtain high orientation degree, PLA was first chain branched with pentaerythritol polyglycidyl ether (PGE). The branching degree as high as 12.69 mol% can be obtained at 0.5 wt% PGE content. The complex viscosity, elastic and viscous modulus for chain branched PLA were improved resulting from the enhancement of molecular entanglement, and consequently higher draw ratio can be achieved during the subsequent hot stretching. The stress-induced crystallization of PLA occurred during stretching, and the crystal structure of the oriented PLA can be attributed to the α′ crystalline form. The tensile strength and modulus of PLA were improved dramatically by drawing. Chain branching and orientation could significantly enhance the blood compatibility of PLA by prolonging clotting time and decreasing hemolysis ratio, protein adsorption and platelet activation. Fibrous structure as well as micro-grooves can be observed for the oriented PLA which were similar to intimal layer of blood vessel, and this bionic structure was considered to be beneficial to decrease the activation and/or adhesion of platelets.

Yes / Highly-oriented poly (lactic acid) (PLA) with bionic micro-grooves was fabricated through solid hot drawing technology for further improving the mechanical properties and blood biocompatibility of PLA. In order to enhance the melt strength and thus obtain high orientation degree, long chain branched PLA (LCB-PLA) was prepared at first through a two-step ring-opening reaction during processing. Linear viscoelasticity combined with branch-on-branch (BOB) model was used to predict probable compositions and chain topologies of the products, and it was found that the molecular weight of PLA increased and topological structures with star like chain with three arms and tree-like chain with two generations formed during reactive processing, and consequently draw ratio as high as1200% can be achieved during the subsequent hot stretching. With the increase of draw ratio, the tensile strength and orientation degree of PLA increased dramatically. Long chain branching and orientation could significantly enhance the blood compatibility of PLA by prolonging clotting time and decreasing platelet activation. Micro-grooves can be observed on the surface of the oriented PLA which were similar to the intimal layer of blood vessel, and such bionic structure resulted from the formation of the oriented shish kebab-like crystals along the draw direction.

Yes / Highly oriented poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) composites were fabricated through solid hot drawing technology in an effort to improve the mechanical properties and blood biocompatibility of PLA as blood-contacting medical devices. It was found that proper MWNTs content and drawing orientation can improve the tensile strength and modulus of PLA dramatically. With the increase in draw ratio, the cold crystallization peak became smaller, and the glass transition and the melting peak of PLA moved to high temperature, while the crystallinity increased, and the grain size decreased, indicating the stress-induced crystallization of PLA during drawing. MWNTs showed a nucleation effect on PLA, leading to the rise in the melting temperature, increase in crystallinity and reduction of spherulite size for the composites. Moreover, the intensity of (002) diffraction of MWNTs increased with draw ratio, indicating that MWNTs were preferentially aligned and oriented during drawing. Microstructure observation demonstrated that PLA matrix had an ordered fibrillar bundle structure, and MWNTs in the composite tended to align parallel to the drawing direction. In addition, the dispersion of MWNTs in PLA was also improved by orientation. Introduction of MWNTs and drawing orientation could significantly enhance the blood compatibility of PLA by prolonging kinetic clotting time, reducing hemolysis ratio and platelet activation.

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<p>In this study, attempts were made to diversify the application of potato starch based biopolymer as foam-grade materials. To improve foamability, which is largely dependent on melt strength, it is possible to modify hydrolyzed starch based biopolymers by bulk modification with bi- and multi- functional epoxy chain extenders. The modification work was carried out using a twin screw extruder (TSE) and an internal batch mixer (Haake Mixer) with four different chain extenders. The modified blends were characterized by Parallel Plate Rheometry, DSC, Intrinsic Viscosity and SEM techniques. Finally, foamability of the modified blends was examined by using supercritical CO₂ as a physical blowing agent in a high-pressure batch vessel. Variables such as saturation pressure, saturation time and saturation temperature were adjusted to determine their influence on the cell morphology of the foamed parts.</p> <p>The multi-functional epoxy chain extenders effectively increased the bulk melt viscosity and reduced the crystalline content of both hydrolyzed starch based biopolymers. The intrinsic viscosity measurements were quantified the chain extension reaction, which primarily occurred in the PLA/AAC or PLA phase in both biopolymers and the starch phase made no contribution towards increased bulk melt viscosity. The multi-functional Joncryl^® ADR 4370S was the most effective chain extender for improving the stability of foams by yielding smaller cell size and higher cell density in comparison with the original biopolymer during the batch foaming process at 10 MPa saturation pressure and 30 min saturation time. The use of other chain extenders proved to be mostly ineffectual in producing uniform cellular structure in their corresponding modified biopolymer at those same processing conditions.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Poly(lactic acid) is biodegradable polymer derived from renewable resources and non-toxic, which has become most interested polymer to substitute petroleum-based polymer. However, it has low glass transition temperature and poor gas barrier properties to restrict the application on hot contents packaging and long-term food packaging. The objectives of this research are: (a) to reduce coagulation of graphene oxide/single-walled carbon nanotube (GOCNT) nanocomposite in poly(lactic acid) matrix and (b) to improve mechanical strength and oxygen barrier property, which extend the application of poly(lactic acid). Graphene oxide has been found to have relatively even dispersion in poly(lactic acid) matrix while its own coagulation has become significant draw back for properties of nanocomposite such as gas barrier, mechanical properties and thermo stability as well as crystallinity. Here, single-walled carbon nanotube was hybrid with graphene oxide to reduce irreversible coagulation by preventing van der Waals of graphene oxide. Mass ratio of graphene oxide and carbon nanotube was determined as 3:1 at presenting greatest performance of preventing coagulation. Four different weight percentage of GOCNT nanocomposite, which are 0.05, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 weight percent, were composited with poly(lactic acid) by solution blending method. FESEM morphology determined minor coagulation of GOCNT nanocomopsite for different weight percentage composites. Insignificant crystallinity change was observed in DSC and XRD data. At 0.4 weight percent, it prevented most of UV-B light but was least transparent. GOCNT nanocomposite weight percent was linearly related to ultimate tensile strength of nanocomposite film. The greatest ultimate tensile strength was found at 0.4 weight percent which is 175% stronger than neat poly(lactic acid) film. Oxygen barrier property was improved as GOCNT weight percent increased. 66.57% of oxygen transmission rate was reduced at 0.4 weight percent compared to neat poly(lactic acid). The enhanced oxygen barrier property was ascribed to the outstanding impermeability of hybrid structure GOCNT as well as the strong interfacial adhesion of GOCNT and poly(lactic acid) rather than change of crystallinity. Such a small amount of GOCNT nanocomposite improved mechanical strength and oxygen barrier property while there were no significant change of crystallinity and thermal behavior found. / Master of Science

Tesis por compendio / "Development of polylactic acid (PLA)-derived formulations by plasticization and additives from renewable resources" The main objective of this doctoral thesis is the study, development and characterization of biodegradable or biocompatible materials from poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with improved properties for uses in several sectors such as food packaging, medical sector, etc. In order to modify the ductility and the stiffness of PLA, with the subsequent effects on its potential uses in different sectors, different fillers and/or additives were incorporated to PLA formulations by extrusion. Several plasticizers derived from vegetable oils and fatty acids were used; particularly, an epoxidized plasticizer derived from stearic acid (octyl epoxy stearate - OES) and a maleinized linseed oil - MLO were used. Another strategy that has been used in this research has focused on the development of binary blends with other polymers with increased ductility such as polycaprolactone (PCL) and thermoplastic starch (TPS). Finally, incorporation of several biocompatible/resorbable fillers derived from calcium orthophosphate (Ca3(PO4)2) such as ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA), was carried out to widen the potential of these PLA-based materials in medical applications. / "Desarrollo de formulaciones derivadas de ácido poliláctico (PLA), mediante plastificación e incorporación de aditivos de origen natural" El objetivo principal de esta tesis doctoral es el estudio, desarrollo y caracterización de materiales biodegradables o biocompatibles de ácido poliláctico (PLA) con propiedades mejoradas para su aplicación en diversos sectores como el envasado de alimentos, sector médico, etc. Para modificar la ductilidad o rigidez del PLA y con ello su aptitud en los distintos campos, se lleva a cabo un estudio de la incorporación de diferentes cargas o aditivos, mediante mezclado por extrusión. Se han utilizado plastificantes derivados de aceites vegetales y ácidos grasos; en particular, un plastificante epoxidado derivado del ácido esteárico (epoxi estearato de octilo - OES) y un derivado maleinizado de aceite de linaza - MLO. Otra de las estrategias que se han abordado se ha centrado en el desarrollo de mezclas binarias con otros biopolímeros con mayor ductilidad como la policaprolactona (PCL) y el almidón termoplástico (TPS). Finalmente, se ha llevado a cabo la incorporación de cargas biocompatibles tipo ortofosfato cálcico (Ca3(PO4)2) como el ß-fosfato tricálcico (ß-TCP) y la hidroxiapatita (HA) para ampliar el potencial de estos materiales basados en PLA en el sector médico. / "Desenvolupament de formulacions derivades d'àcid polilàctic (PLA), mitjançant plastificació i incorporació d'additius d'origen natural" L'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi doctoral és l'estudi, desenvolupament i caracterització de materials biodegradables i biocompatibles d'àcid polilàctic (PLA) amb propietats millorades per a la seua aplicació en diversos sectors com ara l'envasat d'aliments, sector mèdic, etc. Per tal de modificar la ductilitat o rigidesa del PLA, i amb això, la seua aptitud en els esmentats camps, s'ha fet un estudi de la incorporació de diferents càrregues o additius, mitjançant mesclat per extrusió. S'han utilitzat plastificants derivats d'olis vegetals i àcids grassos; en particular, un plastificant epoxidat derivat de l'àcid esteàric (epoxi estearat d'octil - OES) i un derivat maleinitzat d'oli llinós - MLO. Una altra estratègia que s'ha seguit s'ha centrat en el desenvolupament de mescles binàries amb altres polímers amb major ductilitat com ara la policaprolactona (PCL) i el midó termoplàstic (TPS). Finalment, s'ha dut a terme la incorporació de càrregues biocompatibles de tipus ortofosfat càlcic (Ca3(PO4)2) com ara el ß-fosfat tricàlcic (ß-TCP) i la hidroxiapatita (HA) per tal d'ampliar el potencial d'aquests materials basats en PLA al sector mèdic. / Ferri Azor, JM. (2017). Desarrollo de formulaciones derivadas de ácido poliláctico (PLA), mediante plastificación e incorporación de aditivos de origen natural [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/86166 / Premios Extraordinarios de tesis doctorales / Compendio