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Title:   Author  item
                                            Finkenstadt, Victoriaitem
                                            Liu, Linshuitem
                                            Liu, Cheng Kungitem
                                            Cermak, Steven

                                                         - *Steve*item
                                            Evangelista, Roqueitem
                                            Hojilla-Evangelista, Milagros

                                                         - *Mila*item
                                            Willett, Julious
  Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 8/16/2006
                                    Publication  Date: 8/16/2006
                                    Citation: Finkenstadt, V.L., Liu, L.S., Liu, C., Cermak, S.C., Evangelista, R.L., Hojillaevangelist, M.P., Willett, J.L. 2006. Preparation and characterization of poly (lactic acid) green composites using agricultural co-products as fillers [abstract].  World Conference & Exhibition on Oilseed/Vegetable Oil Utilization, Istanbul, Turkey.Interpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: Poly (lactic acid) is a biodegradable plastic made from renewable resources and has similar mechanical properties to polypropylene.  PLA is more expensive than petroleum-based plastics, and the use of low-cost fillers as extenders is desirable.  Agricultural co-products (AcP) of oilseed crops were collected after initial processing.  Cuphea (C), Milkweed (M) and Lesquerella (L) are oil seed crops.  PLA was melted in a twin-screw extruder then AcP (0%, 8%, 15%, 22%, 30% and 45% w/w) was added producing a homogeneous resin which was injection molded.  As AcP content increased, tensile strength for all PLA composites decreased as predicted by the Nicolais-Narkis model.  PLA-C exhibited increased stiffness.  In contrast, the modulus of PLA-M & PLA-L decreased slightly.  Unexpectedly, PLA-M showed extensive stress-cracking under tensile stress and exhibited an elongation value 50% to 200% more than the PLA control.  Acoustic emission shows ductile behavior of the PLA-milkweed composite.


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