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Factorial design in optimization of PHAs processing
Author(s) -
Chiellini Emo,
Grillo Fernandes Elizabeth,
Pietrini Matteo,
Solaro Roberta
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200350705
Subject(s) - factorial experiment , materials science , polymer , rheometer , compression molding , composite material , molding (decorative) , rotor (electric) , degradation (telecommunications) , thermal , melting point , chemical engineering , rheology , thermodynamics , mathematics , mechanical engineering , computer science , mold , statistics , telecommunications , physics , engineering
Poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHA)s, as all melt‐processed polymers, may undergo thermal degradation at temperatures close to the melting point. The primary purpose of the present study is to screen out process variables on the basis of a factorial design for two variables at two levels. The investigated parameters for PHA polymer samples processed in a torque rheometer were structure of PHA, processing temperature, and rotor speed. For polymers processed by compression molding, only the first two variables were considered and purification. The main effects and possible interactions were verified by the changes of molecular weight and thermal properties, as detected by DSC and TGA. It was observed that molecular weight decreased up to about 50% while the thermal properties did not appreciably change.