“Development and evaluation of secondary thermoplastic polyurethane/polycaprolactone blend and nanofiller composites” Doctoral Thesis

Author, institution: Vitalija Skrockienė, Kaunas University of Technology

Science area, field: Technological sciences, Materials engineering – 08T

The Doctoral Dissertation is available at the library of Kaunas University of Technology (K. Donelaičio St. 20, Kaunas).

Scientific Supervisor: Dr. Kristina ŽUKIENĖ (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering – 08T).

Dissertation defence board of Materials Engineering Science Field:

Prof. Dr. Saulius GRIGALEVIČIUS (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Science, Materials Engineering – 08T) – chairman;
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mindaugas ANDRULEVIČIUS (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering – 08T);
Dr. Eglė FATARAITĖ-URBONIENĖ (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering – 08T);
Dr. Rimantas LEVINSKAS (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Technological Science, Materials Engineering – 08T)
Dr. Stasė Irena LUKOŠIŪTĖ (Lithuanian Energy Institute, Technological Science, Materials Engineering – 08T)

Annotation:

Polycaprolactone based thermoplastic polyurethane/polycaprolactone blends (TPU-PCL) can be widely used in medicine for orthopaedic splint production. However, while producing such splints, large amount of waste is left, which is generally disposed of at landfills.  Mechanical recycling of plastics is one of the most simple and environmentally friendliest methods. The obtained secondary TPU-PCL blends have better rheological properties, although, compared to primary blends, their deformation capacity and stiffness are lower. In this the bentonite clay and organically modified montmorillonite fillers is used for the improvement of mechanical properties of the secondary blends. The layered silicate fillers improve the deformation properties of the composites, and increase the intensity of their hydrolytic degradability. In order to improve the interaction between the filler and the polymer matrix, it is proposed to treat the layered silicate bentonite surface by atmospheric-pressure argon, air and oxygen plasma. This filler modification method is environmentally-friendly, cheap, yet, currently rarely used and little investigated. After evaluating the structure and properties of secondary thermoplastic polyurethane and polycaprolactone blend filled with layered silicate bentonite fillers treated by atmospheric-pressure plasma, it is suggested to re-use the thermoplastic polyurethane and polycaprolactone blend waste at the production of orthopaedics splints.