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Arrieta, Marina PAuthor

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May 27, 2025
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Hybrid Gold

Enhancing Polylactic Acid Films With Polyethylene Glycol-Based Plasticizers: A Reactive Extrusion Approach

Publicated to: Macromolecular Rapid Communications. 46 (14): - 2025-05-20 46(14), DOI: 10.1002/marc.202401130

Authors:

Lazaro-Hdez C; Gomez-Carturla J; Arrieta MP; Boronat T; Ivorra-Martinez J
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Affiliations

Grp Invest Polimeros Caracterizac & Aplicac POLCA, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid ETSII UPM, Escuela Tecn Super Ingn Ind, Dept Ingn Quim Ind & Medio Ambiente, Calle Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Valencia UPV, Inst Univ Invest Tecnol Mat IUITM, Plaza Ferrandiz & Carbonell 1, Alicante 03801, Spain - Author
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Abstract

The enhancement of polylactic acid (PLA) films using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based plasticizers through reactive extrusion, employing dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a cross-linking agent is studied in this work. Incorporating PEG plasticizers into PLA substantially raises its elongation at break, from 12.0% in neat PLA to 61.3%, while preserving satisfactory tensile strength. This improvement broadens the industrial applicability of PLA; however, it should be noted that the plasticizers exhibit a tendency to migrate. The reactive extrusion process reduces plasticizer migration, lowering values from 140.3 mg kg-1 in PLA-PEG films to 40.8 mg kg-1 in films processed with reactive extrusion (PLA-PEG-R). This substantial reduction enables the safe use of these materials in food-contact applications. Thermal stability is also enhanced, with degradation temperatures rising from 268.7 degrees C in PLA-PEG to 333.8 degrees C in PLA-DCP systems. Additionally, the glass transition temperature (Tg) decreases to 38.3 degrees C, enhancing material ductility. The films retain certain transparency despite slight alterations in optical properties, and their increased water vapor permeability can be beneficial for applications in food packaging applications. These findings demonstrate that reactive extrusion (REX) with PEG-based plasticizers improves PLA's mechanical, thermal, and functional properties, broadening its industrial application while preserving its environmental advantages.
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Keywords

BlendsChemistryCitratCross linkingCross linking agentsCross-linkingCrosslinkingCross‐linkingDi-cumyl peroxidesElongation-at-breakFilm extrusionFoodFood packagingMacrogolPermeabilityPhbPlaPlasticizerPlasticizer migrationPlasticizersPoly lactic acid filmsPoly(lactide)PolyesterPolyestersPolyethylene glycolPolyethylene glycolsPolylactic acidPolylactideReactive extrusioReactive extrusionReactive extrusion processReactive extrusionsTensile strength

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Macromolecular Rapid Communications due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category .

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-12-31:

  • Scopus: 1
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-12-31:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 12 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
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Awards linked to the item

This research is a part of the grant PID2023-152869OB-C22, and the grant TED2021-131762A-I00, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union "NextGenerationEU"/PRTR. The authors also thank Generalitat Valenciana - GVA, grant number CIGE/2023/46 and CIAICO/2023/253, for supporting this work. J. Ivorra-Martinez thanks Generalitat Valenciana - GVA for funding a postdoc position through the CIAPOS program co-funded by ESF Investing in your future, grant number CIAPOS/2023/362. Microscopy services at UPV are also acknowledged for their help in collecting and analyzing FESEM images. C. Lazaro-Hdez thanks Generalitat Valenciana - GVA for funding a predoc position through the CIACIF program co-funded by ESF Investing in your future, grant number CIACIF/2023/244.
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