Publication of a scientific article entitled Additive-Free Multiple Processing of PLA Pre-Consumer Waste: Influence on Mechanical and Thermal Properties

In August, together with colleagues from the Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, we published an article entitled Additive-Free Multiple Processing of PLA Pre-Consumer Waste: Influence on Mechanical and Thermal Properties in the journal Polymers (IF(2024)=4.9). The authors of the article are Aleksandra Nešić, Rebeka Lorber, Silvester Bolka, Blaž Nardin and Branka Pilić.

The article is accessible on the following link: Additive-Free Multiple Processing of PLA Pre-Consumer Waste: Influence on Mechanical and Thermal Properties

Article Summary: 

Poly(lactide) (PLA) is the most versatile biopolymer with few possible end-of-life scenarios, like recycling, biodegradation/composting, and incineration. Biodegradation occurs under strictly defined conditions, and ultimately, PLA is landfilled, where it behaves like conventional plastics. To completely utilize the potential of PLA, it is necessary to increase the recycling and upcycling rates. In this work, the influence of 10 cycles of reprocessing PLA pre-consumer industrial waste on the material’s properties was examined. The mechanical milling of the material was followed by injection molding, and after each cycle, mechanical, thermal, chemical, and optical properties were studied. Between the cycles, no virgin PLA or any additives were added to enhance the properties. Results showed a slight decrease in molecular weight, while the thermal properties remained unchanged compared to the starting material