Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 30, 2026
13:38
Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
Published on: May 10, 2013
31.4K
Exploring polylactide/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/rare earth complexes biodegradable light conversion
Yinlei Yu1, Pengfei Xu1, Shiling Jia2
1College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China; Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Changchun 130022, China.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|January 15, 2019
Summary
Rare earth europium complexes enhance polymer films, improving light conversion, mechanical properties, and processability. These additives significantly boost elongation at break and alter molecular weight, creating more uniform blends.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Rare Earth Chemistry
Background:
- Developing advanced polymer films with enhanced optical and mechanical properties is crucial for various applications.
- Rare earth complexes offer unique photophysical and chemical properties that can be exploited in material modification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel rare earth europium complexes with organic ligands.
- To prepare and characterize polymer films incorporating these rare earth complexes.
- To investigate the effect of rare earth complexes on the optical, mechanical, and thermal properties of polylactide (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of europium complexes: Eu(DBM)4CPC and Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2.
- Preparation of polymer films via blending with PLA and PBAT.
- Characterization using Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC).
Main Results:
- Films exhibited excellent light conversion ability and high color purity.
- Rare earth complexes improved melt flow properties and reduced melt viscosity.
- Elongation at break significantly increased (up to 595.0/460.9% in MD/TD).
- GPC revealed main chain scission in PLA, leading to reduced molecular weight, with Eu(DBM)4CPC having a more pronounced effect.
- SEM indicated improved miscibility and uniformity of PLA/PBAT blends.
- DSC showed enhanced crystallization capacity of PLA.
- Cetylpyridinium chloride addition improved compatibility, light transmittance, and hydrophilicity.
Conclusions:
- Rare earth europium complexes effectively enhance the performance of PLA/PBAT blend films.
- These complexes improve both optical properties (light conversion, color purity) and mechanical characteristics (elongation at break).
- The additives also positively influence blend miscibility, processability, and crystallization behavior.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:08Gene Conversion
10.6K
Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...
10.6K
02:08Gene Conversion
3.0K
3.0K
02:06Conditions on Early Earth
101.4K
Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.
101.4K
01:36Conversion of Units
36.2K
Sometimes, there is a need to convert from one unit to another one. For instance, reading a cookbook in which quantities are expressed in units of liters or ounces may require conversion of quantities to cups. Or, when looking up directions on how to get to a location, we may be interested to know how many miles we are going to walk. In this case, we would have to convert units of feet or meters to miles.
The first step in the unit conversion is to list the given units and the units required...
The first step in the unit conversion is to list the given units and the units required...
36.2K
01:27Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry
1.5K
Microorganisms play a crucial role in agriculture and the food industry, contributing to soil fertility, crop protection, and food production. Their functions range from nitrogen fixation and biopesticide production to fermentation and food preservation, making them indispensable to sustainable farming and food safety.Role in AgricultureNitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium (symbiotic) and Azotobacter (free-living), convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia through biological nitrogen...
1.5K
01:21Acceleration due to Gravity on Earth
12.1K
According to Newton's law of gravitation, the gravitational force on a body is proportional to its mass. According to Newton's second law of motion, the acceleration produced by an external force is inversely proportional to the force. Hence, the acceleration of an object under an external force of gravitation is independent of its mass.
The acceleration of an object close to the Earth, because of the Earth's gravitational pull, is called the acceleration due to gravity. It is...
The acceleration of an object close to the Earth, because of the Earth's gravitational pull, is called the acceleration due to gravity. It is...
12.1K