Synthesis and characterization of a novel blend of polypropylene with Chlorella

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry Vol. 10; no. 12; pp. 2666 - 2672
• Main Authors: ZHANG, Farao, ENDO, Takashi, KITAGAWA, Ryouichi, KABEYA, Hiroshi, HIROTSU, Takahiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 01.01.2000
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Chlorella; Thermoplastics; Algae; Propylene polymer; Mechanical properties; Dispersion reinforced material; Tensile property; Crystallinity; Chlorophyceae; Experimental study; Property processing relationship; Composite material; Chemical substitution; Polymer filler interaction; Propylene derivative copolymer; Structure processing relationship; Chemical modification; Chlorophyta; 2,5-Furandione(2,5-dihydro); Preparation; Reaction mechanism; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0959-9428; 1364-5501
• DOI: 10.1039/b004489j

A novel blend of polypropylene (PP) with Chlorella, a natural microalga, was synthesized successfully by a melt-mixing method with maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene (MPP) as a compatibilizer. The adhesion of hydrophobic PP to hydrophilic Chlorella is based on the formation of chemical bonds between the maleic anhydride groups of MPP and hydroxy groups of Chlorella through solid-phase esterification. The single maleic anhydride groups have the highest reactivity with Chlorella. From the comparison with PP-Chlorella blends without MPP, the ester bonds between MPP and Chlorella cause a decrease in crystallinity of the MPP matrix which is a primary origin of the decrease in melting and solidification enthalpies of the MPP-Chlorella blend, and induce intensive expansion of the MPP matrix around the Chlorella particles which decreases the glass transition temperature. Consequently, the PP-Chlorella blend with MPP exhibits a marked increase in tensile strength and Young's modulus compared with the blend without MPP because of the stronger interactions between MPP and Chlorella than those between Chlorella cells. (Chlorella is an effective material for photosynthetic fixation of carbon dioxide, studied as a means of addressing global warming. Authors are interested in uses of the material after biological fixation of carbon dioxide.)