Papers by Keyword: Plasticizer

Abstract: Cissampelos pareira, locally known as Krueo Ma Noy or Monoi, is a traditional Thai medicinal plant whose leaf mucilage has long been used as an edible gel and dessert ingredient. The mucilage, a natural hydrophilic polymer produced by plant metabolism, possesses film-forming potential that could be useful in pharmaceutical applications. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the mechanical properties of films prepared from dried C. pareira leaf mucilage, with the incorporation of various plasticizers—glycerin (Gly), propylene glycol (PG), polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400), and low-protein natural rubber latex (LPNRL)—to enhance film flexibility and usability. The unplasticized mucilage film exhibited a high tensile strength of 15.81 ± 0.58 MPa but was brittle, with low elongation at break recorded at 1.62 ± 0.24 percent. The addition of plasticizers significantly improved film elasticity, increasing elongation to a range of 21.41 to 29.93 percent, while reducing tensile strength to between 6.10 and 10.73 MPa. Among the plasticizers tested, LPNRL showed the most favorable mechanical profile, providing a flexible yet sufficiently strong film structure. These results indicate that C. pareira mucilage, when properly modified, can serve as a sustainable and biodegradable alternative for use in pharmaceutical film formulations, including wound dressings, transdermal systems, or oral thin films.

Abstract: The flexibility and durability of biopolymers are enhanced by the supplementation of plasticizers. Various types of plasticizers are commonly utilized. This research aims to investigate the effects of different plasticizer types on the characteristics of biopolymer films prepared from tamarind kernel powder (TKP) and gelatin crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. Three types of plasticizers were examined: glycerol, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol. The concentration of plasticizers was controlled at 1% w/w. The chemical and mechanical properties of the films were analyzed. The results indicated that the plasticizers differentially improved the mechanical properties of the biopolymer films. Additionally, the opacity, color, and water solubility of the films were influenced by the type of plasticizer used. The TKP-gelatin film supplemented with sorbitol exhibited improved mechanical properties, as indicated by both higher tensile strength and elongation at break, compared with that supplemented with glycerol and polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: This research aimed to investigate the possibility of synthesizing a bio-based plasticizer from waste cooking oil using an epoxidation reaction to replace dioctyl phthalate (DOP) in PVC film, which is toxic and hazardous to human health and the environment. This involved synthesizing used household oil through an epoxidation reaction to introduce epoxy groups, followed by isopropyl alcohol to break the epoxy rings and form hydroxyl groups. The chemical structure of the epoxidized waste cooking oil plasticizer was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), with a focus on confirming the presence of epoxy groups within the 3,500 – 3,000 cm^-1 range. Subsequently, this bio-based plasticizer was used in various ratios to DOP to produce PVC films, including ratios of 5:0, 4:1, 3:2, 2:3, 1:4, and 0:5. These PVC films were subject to a comprehensive examination of their physical and chemical properties, including their resistance to tensile stress, elongation ability, the impact on molecular functional groups in the PVC film, and a leaching test. The results showed that the optimal proportion of epoxidized waste cooking oil plasticizer to DOP was 5:0. This ratio demonstrated superior tensile strength, enhanced elongation capacity, increased thermal stability, and exhibited the most robust resistance against solvents compared to other ratios tested.

Abstract: The mechanical strength and structural stability of gelatin film were enhanced by crosslinking with dialdehyde cellulose (DC), having an aldehyde content of 65%. However, the elasticity of the film was improved by plasticizers. The recent work aims to examine the effect of plasticizer type on the characteristics of the gelatin film crosslinked with DC (GDC). The results demonstrated that the weight loss of the films increased after 24 hours of immersion in distilled water, resulting in diminished structural stability compared to the GDC film without adding a plasticizer. Insignificant differences in mechanical properties were observed among the GDC-plasticizer films. The GDC film with glycerol had the most vivid yellow hue, followed by the ones with PEG and sorbitol, respectively. Following a better appearance, the GDC film supplemented with sorbitol could be a potential candidate for packaging application.

Abstract: The objective of this work is in order to investigate how the mechanical properties of bioplastics synthesized from chitosan and porang starch with sorbitol plasticizer are affected by varying drying temperatures. According to the study's findings, changes in drying temperatures significantly affect the mechanical properties of these bioplastics. This research provides valuable insights for developing environmentally friendly packaging alternatives of various drying temperatures starting from 50°C, 55°C, 60°C, 65°C, 70°C. The results of mechanical characterization show that at 50°C with 40% sorbitol, the plastic possesses a 17.32% elongation and 2.66 MPa tensile strength. At 50°C with 60% sorbitol, the tensile strength reaches 1.34 MPa and elongation is 34.43%. Meanwhile, at 65°C with 80% sorbitol, the tensile strength is 1.59 MPa and elongation reaches 37.80%. The plastic is also thermally tested using TGA-DTA, morphologically tested using SEM and its functional divisions are analyzed using FTIR to obtain further data about its properties.

Abstract: The use of plasticizers usually has a beneficial effect on the ductile properties of polymers due to a reduction in the interaction of the polymer chains. As a result of this reduced interaction, there is also a reduction in the tensile strength of the material up to 20.3 MPa. To improve the interaction of polymer and plasticizer without affecting the ductility of the material, and potential migration, a reactive extrusion (REX) process is proposed in this research, by using several organic peroxides in poly(lactide)-dibutyl itaconate (DBI) plasticized formulations. Test specimens are obtained by extrusion and injection moulding and the overall mechanical properties, thermal degradation and biodegradation were measured. The tensile strength increased up to 25.1 MPa and with an elongation above 270%.

Abstract: A plasticizer is one of the essential substances for biopolymer film fabrication. Generally, plasticizers enhance the elasticity of the film by interrupting the hydrogen bonds of the polymer chains. Different types and amounts of plasticizers play important roles in the mechanical properties of the biopolymer film. Glycerol and sorbitol are the most popular plasticizers for biopolymer film production because of their safety for use as food additives (approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA) and cost-effectiveness. The objective of this research is to study the influence of glycerol and sorbitol on the properties of the biopolymer film fabricated from tamarind kernel powder (TKP). The plasticizer content was controlled at 5% w/w. The weight ratio between glycerol and sorbitol was varied as 5:0, 4:1, 3:2, 2.5:2.5, 2:3, 1:4, and 0:5, respectively. The physical characteristics of the films were analyzed. The results demonstrated that glycerol and sorbitol improved the mechanical properties of the biopolymer film differently. The TKP film supplemented with glycerol and sorbitol could be a potential candidate for food packaging.

Abstract: The increased use of plastics has become a major environmental problem, especially during this pandemic. Plastics have generated many problems, particularly waste disposal, which made the researchers aimed to develop biodegradable plastic through fruit waste material, avocado seeds. From a total of 3 kilograms of the avocado seed, starch was extracted through the traditional starch extraction method. There were three groups with the same ingredients but differing in their concentration; the relationship between the proportion of the ingredients and their respective differences was seen by using ANOVA and Post hoc tests. The samples have undergone a tensile strength test following ASTM D882. From the results, the best experimental group was the group with 40 grams of starch, 20 grams of polyvinyl alcohol, and 10 grams of used cooking oil; however, it is different from the biodegradable plastic bags used as the control group. It could be deduced that it is possible to make biodegradable plastic out of Avocado seed starch that is biodegradable, water-soluble, and non-toxic. However, further analysis may be conducted to provide physical features as commercial plastics.

Abstract: Plastic packaging that is often used is not biodegradable. One way to overcome this is to replace it with materials that are environmentally friendly and safe for health, namely biodegradable plastics with high mechanical properties, where the mechanical properties are affected by the drying temperature. Research has been carried out on biodegradable plastics from porang starch and chitosan with glycerol plasticizer at various drying temperatures starting from 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C, and 100°C. The best mechanical characterization results, namely (temperature 70°C, glycerol 60%) showed a tensile strength of 0.32 MPa and elongation of 106.97%, (temperature 90°C, glycerol 80%) showed a tensile strength of 0.565 MPa and an elongation of 127.13%, and (temperature 90°C, 100% glycerol) showed a tensile strength of 0.447 MPa and an elongation of 194.94% and then tested for thermal properties with TGA-DTA, analyzed morphology with SEM, and analyzed functional groups with FTIR.

Abstract: Alkali-activated materials are a low carbon alternative for Ordinary Portland cement in the building industry. However, the effectiveness of commercially available cementitious plasticizers is often an issue. The present study deals with the workability, setting time, and mechanical properties of alkali-activated blast furnace slag (AAS) systems with different addition of lignosulfonate plasticizer (0; 0.5 and 1.0%) and various concentrations of alkaline activator (sodium hydroxide with concentration of Na⁺ ranging from zero to 12 mol∙dm⁻³ was used for these purposes). The workability of AAS was determined using the slump test according to EN 1015-3. Then the Vicat apparatus as described in EN 196-3 was used for measurement of the setting time. The effect of activator dose and plasticizer addition on the mechanical properties was determined using the determination of compressive and tensile strength in bending. A positive effect of the addition of a plasticizer in a certain concentration range on the workability was observed, but at the same time, the setting time is prolonged. The optimal concentration of NaOH seems to be of 2–4 mol∙dm⁻³ regarding the development of mechanical properties and workability.