%0 Journal Article
%T Manufacture of Partially Biodegradable Composite Materials Based on PLA-Tires Powder: Process and Characterization
%A Carlos Rolando Rios-Soberanis
%A Shuchi Wakayama
%A Takenobo Sakai
%A Jos¨¦ de los ¨¢ngeles Rodriguez-Laviada
%A Emilio P¨¦rez-Pacheco
%J International Journal of Polymer Science
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/514951
%X This research work focuses on the processability and mechanical characterization of blends of polylactic acid (PLA) and tire (elastomeric part). Wasted tires used as filler in the PLA matrix were reduced by two different processes (thermal shock and pyrolysis) in order to acquire the solid residuals in powder to be characterized and compared. Elastomeric solids obtained from scraped tires were used as filler in the PLA matrix and mixed in a Brabender 60£¿cc mixer at different concentrations ranging from 0% to 60% of filler volume fraction. The blend was laminated, and then samples were obtained in order to undertake mechanical properties at tension and Izod impact tests. A fully detailed analysis on the solid powders by Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared analysis (IR), and scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM) identified them as a rich source of carbon. Blends were characterized thermally and mechanically showing a direct effect due to the tire nature (thermoset rubber) and concentration. Fracture mechanisms were also identified. 1. Introduction In recent years, there has been widespread interest in the manufacture of products from recycled materials. Among the advantages of doing this is the fact that material recycling makes the technology more economically and environmentally attractive [1]. Particularly among the waste materials in the advancement of civilization, waste tires are a major concern, because the amount of waste tires is increasing more and more due to the increasing demand for tires, and because of their short lifetime, it is therefore necessary to develop methods for recycling waste tires. A number of approaches have been proposed to make use of the large amount of waste rubber; one of them is like biopolymer. Biopolymers are expensive and have either property or processing limitations [2]. Most durable bioresins available in the markets are based on PLA. Biopolymers are made from PLA blended with polymers like polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Fillers, fibers, and additives are also added to the blends to prevent degradability, increase processability, reduce brittleness and speed crystallization. In order to overcome disadvantages, such as poor mechanical properties of polymers from renewable resources, or to offset the high price of synthetic biodegradable polymers, various blends and composites have been developed over the last
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijps/2013/514951/