Scalable manufacturing of an amide-based nucleating agent for transparency and high heat resistance of polylactic acid.

ABSTRACT

The prevalent use of disposable plastic tableware presents notable environmental and health risks. An alternative, polylactic acid (PLA), often does not meet usage requirements due to its low crystallization rate. This research introduces an amide-based nucleating agent, BRE-T-100, developed through a straightforward method to enhance the heat resistance and crystallization rate of PLA. This study systematically investigates the impact of BRE-T-100 and other nucleating agents on the properties of PLA composites. The incorporation of 0.8 % BRE-T-100 increases the crystallization temperature of PLA from 109.6 °C to 131.9 °C. Further, the total crystallization time of PLA composites at 120 °C is reduced to <60 s, while maintaining good transparency. BRE-T-100 exhibits superior comprehensive properties compared to talcum, TMC-200, and TMC-300 and is nearly on par with LAK-301. Its application as a nucleating agent in PLA-based disposable tableware shows promise.