March 29, 2017
Martin Doornheim
1
Evaluation of ERT nPLA compounds
Background
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• ERT developed Earthmatter compounds, which are based on PLLA, PDLA and sc-PLA microfiber. See tables below for the formulations.
• Three types of Earthmatter compounds were received, injection molded at the WUR and results compared with PLLA L130 and PLLA L130 + 5% PDLA D120 benchmark.
• Injection molding was performed using a mold temperature of 30°C and 103°C to identify properties differences of amorphous versus semi-crystalline specimen.
Experimental
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Raw materials: • PLLA L130 (lot 20151004) • PLLA L130 + PDLA D120, compounded at Total-Corbion • Earthmatter formulation #1 (lot f1-161121-001-A) • Earthmatter formulation #6a (lot f6a-161121-003-A) • Earthmatter formulation #18 (lot f18-161208-001-A)
Drying: Minimal 4 hours @ 80°C in a descicant hot air dryer.
Injection molding: Temperature profile: 25-160-195-195-195°C Mold temperature: 30°C & 103°C Holding time: 15s Cooling time: 35s Specimen: tensile samples according ISO 527-2, Impact and HDT samples according ISO 294 Conditioning: 1 week conditioning at 20°C/50% RH
Characterisation: DMTA, tensile properties (ISO 527-1), HDT/B (ISO 075) and impact properties (ISO 179/1eA and 1eU).
Sample Specimen T Mold (°C)
Processing Injection pressure (bar)
L130 Tensile 30 Automatic 1300-1800
L130 + 5% D120 Tensile 30 Automatic 1350
Earthmatter F1 Tensile 30 Automatic 1200-1300
Earthmatter 6A Tensile 30 Automatic 950
Earthmatter F18 Tensile 30 Automatic 700-800
L130 Tensile 103 Semi-automatic 1150-1300
L130 + 5% D120 Tensile 103 Automatic 1100-1300
Earthmatter F1 Tensile 103 Automatic 1050
Earthmatter 6A Tensile 103 Automatic 950-1200
Earthmatter F18 Tensile 103 Automatic 700-750
Results – Injection molding process
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Results – Injection molding process
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Sample Specimen T Mold (°C)
Processing Injection pressure (bar)
L130 Impact/HDT 30 Automatic 1000-1500
L130 + 5% D120 Impact/HDT 30 Automatic 1000
Earthmatter F1 Impact/HDT 30 Automatic 1250
Earthmatter 6A Impact/HDT 30 Automatic 850-1050
Earthmatter F18 Impact/HDT 30 Automatic 500-650
L130 Impact/HDT 103 Semi-automatic 900-1000
L130 + 5% D120 Impact/HDT 103 Semi-automatic 850-1000
Earthmatter F1 Impact/HDT 103 Automatic 800
Earthmatter 6A Impact/HDT 103 Automatic 700
Earthmatter F18 Impact/HDT 103 Automatic 500
Results – DMTA
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Results – DMTA
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Results – DMTA
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• All materials injection molded using a mold temperature of 30°C remains amorphous. • PLLA L130 injection molded using a mold temperature of 103°C was not fully crystallized. • PLLA L130 nucleated with PDLA D120 and all Earthmatter compounds were fully
crystallized. • The storage modulus above glass transition temperature is at a higher level if PDLA is
added.
Results – Tensile properties
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sample
Mold temperature (°C)
L130 + 5% D120L130ERT F18ERT F1ERT 6A
1033010330103301033010330
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
E-m
od
ulu
s (M
Pa)
E-modulusDependence on mold temperature
• Talc in the ERT F1 formulation increases the modulus.
• PDLA increases the modulus of semi-crystalline specimen vs. amorphous specimen.
Results – Tensile properties
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• The maximum stress levels of Earthmatter compounds are somewhat lower than neat PLA specimen.
Results – Tensile properties
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• The elongation at break levels of the Earthmatter compounds are significant higher than neat PLA resins.
• The effectiveness of the Earthmatter compounds on elongation at break levels are the highest for amorphous specimen.
sample
Mold temperature (°C)
L130 + 5% D120L130ERT F18ERT F1ERT 6A
1033010330103301033010330
250
200
150
100
50
0
Elo
ng
ati
on
@ B
reak (
%)
Elongation @ breakDependence on mold temperature
Results – Notched impact resistance
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• The notched impact resistance of semi-crystalline Earthmatter compounds are significant higher than neat PLA resins.
• The notched impact resistance of amorphous Earthmatter compounds only slightly higher than neat PLA resins.
sample
Mold temperature (°C)
L130 + 5% D120L130ERT F18ERT F1ERT 6A
1033010330103301033010330
25
20
15
10
5
0
No
tch
ed
im
pact
(kJ/
m2
)
Notched impact resistanceDependence on mold temperature
Results – HDT/B
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• The HDT/B levels are the highest for semi crystalline PLA specimen.
• The HDT/B levels of semicrystalline Earthmatter compounds are slighty lower than neat PLA.
• The HDT/B levels for all amorphous specimen are around the glass transition temperature of PLA.
• The HDT/B values are in accordance with the DMTA results.
sample
Mold temperature (°C)
L130 + 5% D120L130ERT F18ERT F1ERT 6A
1033010330103301033010330
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
HD
T/B
(°C
)
HDT/BDependence on mold temperature
Conclusions/Discussion
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• Earthmatter compounds were successfully injection molded using standard conditions for nucleated PLA compounds.
• Interesting improvements versus neat PLA achieved for: Impact resistance for semi crystalline specimen. Elongation at break for semi-crystalline specimen. Elongation at break for amorphous specimen.
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Raw data
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