Overview
ABSTRACT
In this article, some paths for optimizing the thermo-mechanical properties of biosourced polymeric compositions based on polylactic acid (PLA) for automotive applications are presented. The impact of different additives, such as clay nanotubes, is studied. Other developments deal with PLA-PMMA-elastomeric nodule ternary blends. After this composition is optimized at the laboratory scale, a manufacturing process suitable for industrial high-rate production is designed. Mechanical properties are fully compatible with high strain rate loadings, such as crashes, but thermal resistance still needs improvement.
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Delphine NOTTA-CUVIER: Senior Lecturer - Laboratoire d'Automatique, de Mécanique et d'Informatique Industrielles et Humaines (LAMIH) UMR CNRS 8201, Institut Carnot Arts, Université Polytechnique des Hauts-de-France (UPHF), Valenciennes, France
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Amani BOUZOUITA: Postdoctoral Researcher - Institut Mines Télécom Lille Douai, Department of Polymer and Composite Technology & Mechanical Engineering (TPCIM), Douai, France
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Jérémy ODENT: Assistant Doctor - Polymer and Composite Materials Department (SMPC), University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
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Rémi DELILLE: Research Engineer - Laboratoire d'Automatique, de Mécanique et d'Informatique Industrielles et Humaines (LAMIH) UMR CNRS 8201, Institut Carnot Arts, Université Polytechnique des Hauts-de-France (UPHF), Valenciennes, France
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Marius MURARIU: Senior Researcher - Polymer and Composite Materials Department (SMPC), Materia Nova Materials R&D Centre, Mons, Belgium
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Franck LAURO: University Professor - Laboratoire d'Automatique, de Mécanique et d'Informatique Industrielles et Humaines (LAMIH) UMR CNRS 8201, Institut Carnot Arts, Université Polytechnique des Hauts-de-France (UPHF), Valenciennes, France
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Jean-Marie RAQUEZ: Associate Researcher FRS-FNRS - Polymer and Composite Materials Department (SMPC), University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
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Grégory HAUGOU: Senior Lecturer - Laboratoire d'Automatique, de Mécanique et d'Informatique Industrielles et Humaines (LAMIH) UMR CNRS 8201, Institut Carnot Arts, Université Polytechnique des Hauts-de-France (UPHF), Valenciennes, France
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Philippe DUBOIS: Ordinary Professor - Polymer and Composite Materials Department (SMPC), University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
INTRODUCTION
In the automotive sector, public and political awareness of environmental issues is reflected in increasingly stringent regulations on CO 2 emissions. To achieve the targets set, automakers and equipment suppliers are making considerable efforts to reduce vehicle mass and thus fuel consumption and emissions. In terms of materials, this is reflected in the growing use of polymers, particularly thermoplastics, to replace higher-density metallic materials. These polymer materials are generally reinforced to give them thermomechanical properties compatible with the extreme mechanical stresses and wide temperature ranges typical of automotive applications.
At the same time, regulations are setting ever-higher targets for the proportion of materials derived from renewable resources in vehicles. A new challenge is to develop biosourced polymer compositions with thermomechanical properties at least analogous to those of petro-sourced automotive polymers.
Among the biobased polymers available for industrial applications, polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA) offers particularly interesting properties, in particular high tensile and flexural strength and rigidity, and easy shaping, at an affordable cost. Nevertheless, PLA is brittle and has low resilience and thermal stability.
This article presents a strategy for the progressive development of PLA-based biosourced polymer compositions, with the aim of giving them properties compatible with automotive specifications.
Plastics and composites
Degree of technology diffusion: growth
Technologies involved: extrusion, injection molding, characterization of mechanical behavior, DMA
Applications: engineering
Main French players (non-exhaustive list)
Research laboratories: LAMIH UMR CNRS 8201, Université Polytechnique des Hauts-de-France; TPCIM Department, IMT Lille-Douai
Organization: CRITT Polymères Picardie
Other players worldwide (non-exhaustive list)
Research Laboratory: SMPC, University of Mons, Mons (Belgium)
Industrial transfer center: Materia Nova Materials R&D Centre, Mons, -Belgium
Association: "European Bioplastics" Berlin, Germany
PLA producer: Natureworks LLC (United States)
Contact: [email protected]
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KEYWORDS
automotive | polylactic acid | thermomechanical properties
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Polylactic acid (PLA) for automotive applications
Context
Bibliography
Regulations
Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000, and subsequent amending acts.
Websites
Novodur H801 (Styrolution)
http://www.ineos-styrolution.com
Hesta com (LyonDellBasell)
https://productsafety.lyondellbasell.com
Plexiglas (Evonik)
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