Selected Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene/TPS Composites as a Material for Flowerpots and Horticulture Containers
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FMPMSA2017_432Wójtowicz.pdf (514.96 KB)
Date
2017-11
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Department of Machinery Exploitation and Management of Production Processes, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland
Abstract
Thermoplastic starch (TPS) was prepared from native potato starch:glycerol:keratin (70:20:10 wt.%) blends and processed using a modified single screw extruder at L/D=16. Recycled polypropylene was mixed with TPS at the ratio of 90:10 and 60:40 and re-granulated at various screw speeds in the extrusion-cooking process. The obtained composites were shaped into big flowerpots using an injection-molding machine. The samples collected from the external pot surface were tested with puncture tests to evaluate the mechanical properties of the material. The addition of 10% of starch-based biopolymer to the recycled PP enhanced the mechanical properties of the tested flowerpots. Selecting the proper composition and processing conditions may help to manage production of pots more sustainable. The results also confirmed the possibility to increase the TPS content up to 40% in horticultural containers and the option of processing such composites with injection-molding as more environmentally friendly than using conventional polymers.
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Wójtowicz A., Oniszczuk T., Klepka T., Kupryaniuk K., Combrzyński M., Picchioni F. 2017. Selected Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene/TPS Composites as a Material for Flowerpots and Horticulture Containers. [in:] Lorencowicz E. (ed.), Uziak J. (ed.), Huyghebaert B. (ed.). Farm Machinery and Processes Management in Sustainable Agriculture, 9th International Scientific Symposium. ULS Lublin, p.432-437