Paola Scarfato | University of Salerno Italy (original) (raw)

Papers by Paola Scarfato

Research paper thumbnail of Rheological and mechanical properties of recycled polypropylene

Polymer Engineering & Science, 1999

Triphenylphosphite (TPP) has been used as a chain extender to regenerate polyethylene terephtalat... more Triphenylphosphite (TPP) has been used as a chain extender to regenerate polyethylene terephtalate (PET) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) wastes and to improve the properties of PET/HDPE system based on recycled materials. TPP incorporation in PET and HDPE showed a noticeable increase of the torque as a function of the mixing time and proved that the degradation reactions are considerably decreased. In the case of PET/ HDPE blends, the increase of the torque was strongly dependent on the composition of the homopolymers and on the time of mixing. TPP incorporation contributed to significant variations of the rheological and mechanical properties of the regenerated PET and HDPE and their blends.

Research paper thumbnail of Transparent and hydrophobic nanocoating materials for photovoltaic cells

Research paper thumbnail of Mechanical Recycling of Melt Compounded Polymer Silicate Nanocomposites

Research paper thumbnail of Development of Eco-Sustainable PBAT-Based Blown Films and Performance Analysis for Food Packaging Applications

Materials, 2020

In this work, eco-sustainable blown films with improved performance, suitable for flexible packag... more In this work, eco-sustainable blown films with improved performance, suitable for flexible packaging applications requiring high ductility, were developed and characterized. Films were made by blending two bioplastics with complementary properties—the ductile and flexible poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and the rigid and brittle poly(lactic acid) (PLA)—at a 60/40 mass ratio. With the aim of improving the blends’ performance, the effects of two types of PLA, differing for viscosity and stereoregularity, and the addition of a commercial polymer chain extender (Joncryl®), were analyzed. The use of the PLA with a viscosity ratio closer to PBAT and lower stereoregularity led to a finer morphology and better interfacial adhesion between the phases, and the addition of the chain extender further reduced the size of the dispersed phase domains, with beneficial effects on the mechanical response of the produced films. The best system composition, made by the blend of PBAT, amo...

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of hydrophobic resin and/or nanoclay on the water and oxygen transport properties of a concrete

Research paper thumbnail of Attuatori meccanici su base polimerica

Research paper thumbnail of Historic centre of Salerno: typical materials, decay and restoration analysis

Research paper thumbnail of Rheological behaviour of PET scraps modified by reactive extrusion

Research paper thumbnail of Polyamide-silicate nanocomposites formed by melt compounding

Research paper thumbnail of Film nanocompositi PLA/silicati come soluzioni di imballaggio ecocompatibile

Research paper thumbnail of Caratterizzazione di film nanocompositi polimero-silicato a base di una nuova copoliammide ottenuti per melt compounding

Research paper thumbnail of Trattamenti superficiali per la protezione del calcestruzzo mediante l’utilizzo di resine nanocomposite

Research paper thumbnail of Composition à activité antigermination, procédés d'obtention et utilisation de la composition

L'invention concerne une composition a activite antigermination comprenant, comme principe ac... more L'invention concerne une composition a activite antigermination comprenant, comme principe actif, un isothiocyanate d'allyle seul ou en combinaison avec d'autres substances presentant une action synergique, sous forme de composes emulsifiables ou sous forme de microcapsule, l'isothiocyanate d'allyle etant incorpore dans un systeme a base polymere pour liberation controlee du principe actif. La membrane de la microcapsule represente 5-25% en poids, le tensioactif 2-10% en poids, et l'isothiocyanate d'allyle moins de70% en poids.

Research paper thumbnail of Applications of Polymeric Treatments in Improving Building Construction Materials Durability

Research paper thumbnail of Oberflaechenbehandlung des Betons mit Polymer-Organoton Komposite

Die Eigenschaften von Kunstharzen, die mit Nanopartikeln gefuellt wurden, werden mit Blick auf ih... more Die Eigenschaften von Kunstharzen, die mit Nanopartikeln gefuellt wurden, werden mit Blick auf ihre Verwendung als Schutzschicht fuer Beton beschrieben. Zwei kommerzielle Produkte, eine Oberflaechenbeschichtung und ein Impraegniermittel, wurden als Matrix ausgesucht und mit organisch modifiziertem geschichtetem Montmorillonit bei einer Massenzugabe zwischen 2 Prozent und 6 Prozent gefuellt. Die schuetzenden Eigenschaften der hergestellten Nanokomposite wurden ueber die physikalische Bestimmung der Wasserdampfdurchlaessigkeit, des Salzkristallisationsversuchs und des Kontaktwinkels gemessen. Zusaetzlich wurden kolorimetrische Messungen durchgefuehrt, um die Aenderung der aesthetischen Wirkung einer Betonoberflaeche zu bestimmen. Das wichtigste Ergebnis der Messungen ist die Tatsache, dass die Schutzwirkung der untersuchten Beschichtungen hinsichtlich der Wasserdampfpermeabilitaet des Betons durch Zugabe von Nanoteilchen deutlich verbessert werden konnte. Ausserdem konnte der Widersta...

Research paper thumbnail of An Easy Route to Wettability Changes of Polyethylene Terephthalate–Silicon Oxide Substrate Films for High Barrier Applications, Surface-Modified with a Self-Assembled Monolayer of Fluoroalkylsilanes

Polymers

Inorganic–organic multilayer films consisting of polymers coated with thin inorganic oxidic layer... more Inorganic–organic multilayer films consisting of polymers coated with thin inorganic oxidic layers (e.g., SiOx) ensure very high barrier performances against gas and vapor permeation, what makes them packaging materials suitable for sophisticated technical applications, including the encapsulation of photovoltaic devices or quantum dots, barrier films for optical displays, and transparent greenhouse screens. In these fields, surface coating or texturing of the multilayer protective films are effective technologies to improve their self-clean ability, thus reducing the required maintenance and ensuring longer durability and better performances. In this work, we used the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technique to modify the surface and wetting properties of commercial polyethylene terephthalate-silicon oxide substrate (PET-SiOx) films developed for technical applications requiring a combined high barrier and transparency. The selected surface modifier was the 1H,1H,2H,2H-per-fluorode...

Research paper thumbnail of Study on Improving the Processability and Properties of Mixed Polyolefin Post-Consumer Plastics for Piping Applications

Polymers

This study focuses on the upgrading strategies to make Fil-s (acronym for film-small), a polyolef... more This study focuses on the upgrading strategies to make Fil-s (acronym for film-small), a polyolefin-based material coming from the mechanical recycling of post-consumer flexible packaging, fit for re-use in the piping sector. The effects of washing treatments (at cold and hot conditions) and the addition of an experimental compatibilizer on the chemical-physical properties of Fil-s were first assessed. The measurements of some key properties (density, melt flow index, flexural modulus, yield strength), for both Fil-s as such and the different developed Fil-s based systems, was also conducted in order to evaluate the suitability of this complex and challenging waste stream to replace virgin PE-based pipe and fitting products, in compliance to ASTM D3350 standard. The outcomes of the present work contributed to define a code, for each Fil-s system investigated, useful for identifying the level of their performance in piping applications. All the recyclates were extruded as pipes by us...

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of the Suitability of Poly(Lactide)/Poly(Butylene-Adipate-co-Terephthalate) Blown Films for Chilled and Frozen Food Packaging Applications

Polymers

The use of biopolymers can reduce the environmental impact generated by plastic materials. Among ... more The use of biopolymers can reduce the environmental impact generated by plastic materials. Among biopolymers, blends made of poly(lactide) (PLA) and poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) prove to have adequate performances for food packaging applications. Therefore, the present work deals with the production and the characterization of blown films based on PLA and PBAT blends in a wide range of compositions, in order to evaluate their suitability as chilled and frozen food packaging materials, thus extending their range of applications. The blends were fully characterized: they showed the typical two-phase structure, with a morphology varying from fibrillar to globular in accordance with their viscosity ratio. The increase of PBAT content in the blends led to a decrease of the barrier properties to oxygen and water vapor, and to an increase of the toughness of the films. The mechanical properties of the most ductile blends were also evaluated at 4 °C and −25 °C. The decreas...

Research paper thumbnail of Comfort and fatigue performance of a Soya-derived flexible PU foam for mattresses

THE 9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF ADVANCED MATERIALS - ICSAAM 2019

In this work, a sustainable soy-derived PU flexible foam for mattresses has been characterized in... more In this work, a sustainable soy-derived PU flexible foam for mattresses has been characterized in terms of structural, thermal and mechanical properties, and submitted to cyclic fatigue tests, in order to investigate its cyclic fatigue performance. The bio-foam, tested before and after 120000 cycles fatigue loading, shows both a thickness loss and significant changes in morphology, with a structural breakdown of the cell walls, and in the mechanical parameters related to comfort (i.e. hysteresis loss, surface firmness and sag factor), but it maintains substantial resistance to bottoming out as the load is applied.

Research paper thumbnail of 3D Printing of PLA/clay Nanocomposites: Influence of Printing Temperature on Printed Samples Properties

Materials

In this study, the possibility of using a layered silicate-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) in ad... more In this study, the possibility of using a layered silicate-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) in additive manufacturing applications was investigated. In particular, the aim of this work was to study the influence of printing temperature in the 3D printing process of PLA/clay nanocomposites. For this reason, two PLA grades (4032D and 2003D, D-isomer content 1.5 and 4, respectively) were melt-compounded by a twin screw extruder with a layered silicate (Cloisite 30B) at 4 wt %. Then, PLA and PLA/clay feedstock filaments (diameter 1.75 mm) were produced using a single screw extruder. Dog-bone and prismatic specimens were 3D printed using the FDM technique at three different temperatures, which were progressively increased from melting temperature (185–200–215 °C for PLA 4032D and 165–180–195 °C for PLA 2003D). PLA and PLA/clay specimens were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile tests....

Research paper thumbnail of Rheological and mechanical properties of recycled polypropylene

Polymer Engineering & Science, 1999

Triphenylphosphite (TPP) has been used as a chain extender to regenerate polyethylene terephtalat... more Triphenylphosphite (TPP) has been used as a chain extender to regenerate polyethylene terephtalate (PET) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) wastes and to improve the properties of PET/HDPE system based on recycled materials. TPP incorporation in PET and HDPE showed a noticeable increase of the torque as a function of the mixing time and proved that the degradation reactions are considerably decreased. In the case of PET/ HDPE blends, the increase of the torque was strongly dependent on the composition of the homopolymers and on the time of mixing. TPP incorporation contributed to significant variations of the rheological and mechanical properties of the regenerated PET and HDPE and their blends.

Research paper thumbnail of Transparent and hydrophobic nanocoating materials for photovoltaic cells

Research paper thumbnail of Mechanical Recycling of Melt Compounded Polymer Silicate Nanocomposites

Research paper thumbnail of Development of Eco-Sustainable PBAT-Based Blown Films and Performance Analysis for Food Packaging Applications

Materials, 2020

In this work, eco-sustainable blown films with improved performance, suitable for flexible packag... more In this work, eco-sustainable blown films with improved performance, suitable for flexible packaging applications requiring high ductility, were developed and characterized. Films were made by blending two bioplastics with complementary properties—the ductile and flexible poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and the rigid and brittle poly(lactic acid) (PLA)—at a 60/40 mass ratio. With the aim of improving the blends’ performance, the effects of two types of PLA, differing for viscosity and stereoregularity, and the addition of a commercial polymer chain extender (Joncryl®), were analyzed. The use of the PLA with a viscosity ratio closer to PBAT and lower stereoregularity led to a finer morphology and better interfacial adhesion between the phases, and the addition of the chain extender further reduced the size of the dispersed phase domains, with beneficial effects on the mechanical response of the produced films. The best system composition, made by the blend of PBAT, amo...

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of hydrophobic resin and/or nanoclay on the water and oxygen transport properties of a concrete

Research paper thumbnail of Attuatori meccanici su base polimerica

Research paper thumbnail of Historic centre of Salerno: typical materials, decay and restoration analysis

Research paper thumbnail of Rheological behaviour of PET scraps modified by reactive extrusion

Research paper thumbnail of Polyamide-silicate nanocomposites formed by melt compounding

Research paper thumbnail of Film nanocompositi PLA/silicati come soluzioni di imballaggio ecocompatibile

Research paper thumbnail of Caratterizzazione di film nanocompositi polimero-silicato a base di una nuova copoliammide ottenuti per melt compounding

Research paper thumbnail of Trattamenti superficiali per la protezione del calcestruzzo mediante l’utilizzo di resine nanocomposite

Research paper thumbnail of Composition à activité antigermination, procédés d'obtention et utilisation de la composition

L'invention concerne une composition a activite antigermination comprenant, comme principe ac... more L'invention concerne une composition a activite antigermination comprenant, comme principe actif, un isothiocyanate d'allyle seul ou en combinaison avec d'autres substances presentant une action synergique, sous forme de composes emulsifiables ou sous forme de microcapsule, l'isothiocyanate d'allyle etant incorpore dans un systeme a base polymere pour liberation controlee du principe actif. La membrane de la microcapsule represente 5-25% en poids, le tensioactif 2-10% en poids, et l'isothiocyanate d'allyle moins de70% en poids.

Research paper thumbnail of Applications of Polymeric Treatments in Improving Building Construction Materials Durability

Research paper thumbnail of Oberflaechenbehandlung des Betons mit Polymer-Organoton Komposite

Die Eigenschaften von Kunstharzen, die mit Nanopartikeln gefuellt wurden, werden mit Blick auf ih... more Die Eigenschaften von Kunstharzen, die mit Nanopartikeln gefuellt wurden, werden mit Blick auf ihre Verwendung als Schutzschicht fuer Beton beschrieben. Zwei kommerzielle Produkte, eine Oberflaechenbeschichtung und ein Impraegniermittel, wurden als Matrix ausgesucht und mit organisch modifiziertem geschichtetem Montmorillonit bei einer Massenzugabe zwischen 2 Prozent und 6 Prozent gefuellt. Die schuetzenden Eigenschaften der hergestellten Nanokomposite wurden ueber die physikalische Bestimmung der Wasserdampfdurchlaessigkeit, des Salzkristallisationsversuchs und des Kontaktwinkels gemessen. Zusaetzlich wurden kolorimetrische Messungen durchgefuehrt, um die Aenderung der aesthetischen Wirkung einer Betonoberflaeche zu bestimmen. Das wichtigste Ergebnis der Messungen ist die Tatsache, dass die Schutzwirkung der untersuchten Beschichtungen hinsichtlich der Wasserdampfpermeabilitaet des Betons durch Zugabe von Nanoteilchen deutlich verbessert werden konnte. Ausserdem konnte der Widersta...

Research paper thumbnail of An Easy Route to Wettability Changes of Polyethylene Terephthalate–Silicon Oxide Substrate Films for High Barrier Applications, Surface-Modified with a Self-Assembled Monolayer of Fluoroalkylsilanes

Polymers

Inorganic–organic multilayer films consisting of polymers coated with thin inorganic oxidic layer... more Inorganic–organic multilayer films consisting of polymers coated with thin inorganic oxidic layers (e.g., SiOx) ensure very high barrier performances against gas and vapor permeation, what makes them packaging materials suitable for sophisticated technical applications, including the encapsulation of photovoltaic devices or quantum dots, barrier films for optical displays, and transparent greenhouse screens. In these fields, surface coating or texturing of the multilayer protective films are effective technologies to improve their self-clean ability, thus reducing the required maintenance and ensuring longer durability and better performances. In this work, we used the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technique to modify the surface and wetting properties of commercial polyethylene terephthalate-silicon oxide substrate (PET-SiOx) films developed for technical applications requiring a combined high barrier and transparency. The selected surface modifier was the 1H,1H,2H,2H-per-fluorode...

Research paper thumbnail of Study on Improving the Processability and Properties of Mixed Polyolefin Post-Consumer Plastics for Piping Applications

Polymers

This study focuses on the upgrading strategies to make Fil-s (acronym for film-small), a polyolef... more This study focuses on the upgrading strategies to make Fil-s (acronym for film-small), a polyolefin-based material coming from the mechanical recycling of post-consumer flexible packaging, fit for re-use in the piping sector. The effects of washing treatments (at cold and hot conditions) and the addition of an experimental compatibilizer on the chemical-physical properties of Fil-s were first assessed. The measurements of some key properties (density, melt flow index, flexural modulus, yield strength), for both Fil-s as such and the different developed Fil-s based systems, was also conducted in order to evaluate the suitability of this complex and challenging waste stream to replace virgin PE-based pipe and fitting products, in compliance to ASTM D3350 standard. The outcomes of the present work contributed to define a code, for each Fil-s system investigated, useful for identifying the level of their performance in piping applications. All the recyclates were extruded as pipes by us...

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of the Suitability of Poly(Lactide)/Poly(Butylene-Adipate-co-Terephthalate) Blown Films for Chilled and Frozen Food Packaging Applications

Polymers

The use of biopolymers can reduce the environmental impact generated by plastic materials. Among ... more The use of biopolymers can reduce the environmental impact generated by plastic materials. Among biopolymers, blends made of poly(lactide) (PLA) and poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) prove to have adequate performances for food packaging applications. Therefore, the present work deals with the production and the characterization of blown films based on PLA and PBAT blends in a wide range of compositions, in order to evaluate their suitability as chilled and frozen food packaging materials, thus extending their range of applications. The blends were fully characterized: they showed the typical two-phase structure, with a morphology varying from fibrillar to globular in accordance with their viscosity ratio. The increase of PBAT content in the blends led to a decrease of the barrier properties to oxygen and water vapor, and to an increase of the toughness of the films. The mechanical properties of the most ductile blends were also evaluated at 4 °C and −25 °C. The decreas...

Research paper thumbnail of Comfort and fatigue performance of a Soya-derived flexible PU foam for mattresses

THE 9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF ADVANCED MATERIALS - ICSAAM 2019

In this work, a sustainable soy-derived PU flexible foam for mattresses has been characterized in... more In this work, a sustainable soy-derived PU flexible foam for mattresses has been characterized in terms of structural, thermal and mechanical properties, and submitted to cyclic fatigue tests, in order to investigate its cyclic fatigue performance. The bio-foam, tested before and after 120000 cycles fatigue loading, shows both a thickness loss and significant changes in morphology, with a structural breakdown of the cell walls, and in the mechanical parameters related to comfort (i.e. hysteresis loss, surface firmness and sag factor), but it maintains substantial resistance to bottoming out as the load is applied.

Research paper thumbnail of 3D Printing of PLA/clay Nanocomposites: Influence of Printing Temperature on Printed Samples Properties

Materials

In this study, the possibility of using a layered silicate-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) in ad... more In this study, the possibility of using a layered silicate-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) in additive manufacturing applications was investigated. In particular, the aim of this work was to study the influence of printing temperature in the 3D printing process of PLA/clay nanocomposites. For this reason, two PLA grades (4032D and 2003D, D-isomer content 1.5 and 4, respectively) were melt-compounded by a twin screw extruder with a layered silicate (Cloisite 30B) at 4 wt %. Then, PLA and PLA/clay feedstock filaments (diameter 1.75 mm) were produced using a single screw extruder. Dog-bone and prismatic specimens were 3D printed using the FDM technique at three different temperatures, which were progressively increased from melting temperature (185–200–215 °C for PLA 4032D and 165–180–195 °C for PLA 2003D). PLA and PLA/clay specimens were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile tests....