Foaming of PLA - the use of melt strength enhancers to achieve lower density foams produced by chemical blowing agents

摘要

The primary objective of this article is to demonstrate the effects of increased levels of an acrylic melt strength enhancer on the free foamed extrusion properties of poly lactic acid (PLA) and the related process stability and cell structure. Additional objectives are to show that a well balanced blowing agent concentrate is effective at developing a good quality low density foam using PLA modified with an acrylic melt strength enhancer and how it affects the cell structure and surface quality of a free foamed extruded profile.