The Effect of Zeolite Na-X and Clinoptilolite as Functional Fillers on the Mechanical, Thermal and Barrier Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane
To obtain sustainable food packaging materials, alternatives to traditional ones must be researched. In this work, two different kinds of zeolites, i.e., a natural one, Clinoptilolite, and a synthetic one, Zeolite Na-X, were mixed with thermoplastic polyurethane for the fabrication of composites. Co...
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| author | Nello Russo Letizia Verdolotti Giuseppe Cesare Lama Federica Recupido Barbara Liguori Maria Oliviero |
| author_facet | Nello Russo Letizia Verdolotti Giuseppe Cesare Lama Federica Recupido Barbara Liguori Maria Oliviero |
| author_sort | Nello Russo |
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| description | To obtain sustainable food packaging materials, alternatives to traditional ones must be researched. In this work, two different kinds of zeolites, i.e., a natural one, Clinoptilolite, and a synthetic one, Zeolite Na-X, were mixed with thermoplastic polyurethane for the fabrication of composites. Composite films were prepared via a hot mixing stage and then by means of a hot compression molding process. Several TPU/zeolite composites were produced with a filler concentration ranging from 5% to 10%wt. Finally, the obtained films were characterized by Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FT-IR, ATR), thermal analysis (TGA and DSC), frequency sweep test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical tensile test and oxygen permeability test. For both fillers and at all concentrations, the inclusion of zeolites significantly influenced the analyzed properties. In the TPU/zeolite composites, an overall enhancement was observed compared to the neat polymer, attributed to improved processability, superior barrier properties and the potential to create active materials by loading zeolite combined with various chemicals for specific applications. These findings suggest that the resulting composites hold considerable promise for applications in the food packaging sector. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a8f24655cba64d8393daf835800dce15 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-a8f24655cba64d8393daf835800dce152025-01-24T13:43:58ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-01-0130242010.3390/molecules30020420The Effect of Zeolite Na-X and Clinoptilolite as Functional Fillers on the Mechanical, Thermal and Barrier Properties of Thermoplastic PolyurethaneNello Russo0Letizia Verdolotti1Giuseppe Cesare Lama2Federica Recupido3Barbara Liguori4Maria Oliviero5Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council (IPCB-CNR), Portici, 80055 Naples, ItalyInstitute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council (IPCB-CNR), Portici, 80055 Naples, ItalyInstitute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council (IPCB-CNR), Portici, 80055 Naples, ItalyInstitute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council (IPCB-CNR), Portici, 80055 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80025 Naples, ItalyInstitute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council (IPCB-CNR), Portici, 80055 Naples, ItalyTo obtain sustainable food packaging materials, alternatives to traditional ones must be researched. In this work, two different kinds of zeolites, i.e., a natural one, Clinoptilolite, and a synthetic one, Zeolite Na-X, were mixed with thermoplastic polyurethane for the fabrication of composites. Composite films were prepared via a hot mixing stage and then by means of a hot compression molding process. Several TPU/zeolite composites were produced with a filler concentration ranging from 5% to 10%wt. Finally, the obtained films were characterized by Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FT-IR, ATR), thermal analysis (TGA and DSC), frequency sweep test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical tensile test and oxygen permeability test. For both fillers and at all concentrations, the inclusion of zeolites significantly influenced the analyzed properties. In the TPU/zeolite composites, an overall enhancement was observed compared to the neat polymer, attributed to improved processability, superior barrier properties and the potential to create active materials by loading zeolite combined with various chemicals for specific applications. These findings suggest that the resulting composites hold considerable promise for applications in the food packaging sector.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/2/420thermoplastic polyurethanezeolite Na-Xclinoptilolitecompositesfunctional properties |
| spellingShingle | Nello Russo Letizia Verdolotti Giuseppe Cesare Lama Federica Recupido Barbara Liguori Maria Oliviero The Effect of Zeolite Na-X and Clinoptilolite as Functional Fillers on the Mechanical, Thermal and Barrier Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Molecules thermoplastic polyurethane zeolite Na-X clinoptilolite composites functional properties |
| title | The Effect of Zeolite Na-X and Clinoptilolite as Functional Fillers on the Mechanical, Thermal and Barrier Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane |
| title_full | The Effect of Zeolite Na-X and Clinoptilolite as Functional Fillers on the Mechanical, Thermal and Barrier Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Zeolite Na-X and Clinoptilolite as Functional Fillers on the Mechanical, Thermal and Barrier Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Zeolite Na-X and Clinoptilolite as Functional Fillers on the Mechanical, Thermal and Barrier Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane |
| title_short | The Effect of Zeolite Na-X and Clinoptilolite as Functional Fillers on the Mechanical, Thermal and Barrier Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane |
| title_sort | effect of zeolite na x and clinoptilolite as functional fillers on the mechanical thermal and barrier properties of thermoplastic polyurethane |
| topic | thermoplastic polyurethane zeolite Na-X clinoptilolite composites functional properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/2/420 |
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