Leader: UniPA

Objectives:

1. Formulation of new PWBs/biodegradable polymer systems
2. Analysis and optimization of processability and performance properties
3. Evaluation of the effects of simulated use by UV exposure/ photooxidation on processability and performance properties

Tasks:

1. 1.1 - Formulation and processability of new PWBs/biodegradable polymer systems
2. 1.2 - Production and characterization of artifacts and study of the effects of a simulated use by photooxidation
3. 1.3 - Study of the effects of a simulated use by photooxidation

Outcomes:

1. Knowledge on relationships among formulation, and processing technology/conditions and functional properties for new high performance PWBs/biodegradable polymer systems
2. Knowledge on the effects of simulated use by photooxidation on structure and performance of new PWBs/biodegradable polymer systems, both virgin and recycled

Deliverables:

1. D1.1 Formulation-processing-property map (M16) - Written report summarizing the relationships among formulation-processing-property of PWBs/biodegradable polymer systems, allowing to find the optimal formulation, production technology and processing conditions of the article to be manufactured, in relation to the intended application
2. D1.2 Artifacts for recyclability and biodegradation study (M16) - Prototype products, on a laboratory scale, of selected biodegradable systems, before and after photooxidation

Leader: UniSA

Objectives:

1. Study of recyclability of the selected biodegradable matrices by thermomechanical reprocessing
2. Evaluation of the effects of PWB additives on the recyclability of selected biodegradable matrices
3. Evaluation of the effects of photo-oxidation/UV exposure on the recyclability of selected biodegradable formulations
4. Evaluation of the effects of regrading additives on the recyclability of selected biodegradable formulations
5. Selection of optimized recycling/upcycling strategies to obtain recycled systems with properties suitable for second-life applications

Tasks:

1. 2.1 - Study of recyclability of selected biodegradable matrices and prototypization
2. 2.2 - Evaluation of the effects of PWBs addition and photo-oxidation/UV exposure on recyclability and prototypization
3. 2.3 - Experimentation of upgrading strategies and prototypization

Outcomes:

1. Knowledge on the relationships between biodegradable polymer system composition and recyclability
2. Skills to set up a recycling/upcycling process for neat and additivated biodegradable polymer systems
3. Supply of the recycled systems to the other Units in the required number and quality for photooxidation/UV exposure experiments and for biodegradation study

Deliverables:

1. D2.1 Report on recyclability of selected PWBs/biodegradable systems and effects of photo-oxidation/UV exposure (M18) - Written report summarizing the results related to the recycling experiments of the selected systems, such as and after photo-oxidation/UV exposure
2. D2.2 Report on the experimentation of upgrading strategies (M20) - Written report describing the different systems tested, in relation to composition and upgrading mechanisms, the conditions used for the recycling and the effects on physic-mechanical performance of the upcycled systems
3. D2.3 Prototypes of recycled biodegradable systems (M20) - Prototype products, on a laboratory pilot scale, of selected recycled biodegradable systems, with optimized composition and physic-mechanical performance suitable for second life applications

Leader: CNR-CT

Objectives:

1. Testing biodegradability in compost or soil of the new formulations
2. Evaluation of the effects of recycling on biodegradability
3. Assessment of UV-sterilization treatment on selected formulation for packaging
4. Monitoring surface and bulk changes induced by degradation (in soil, compost or by irradiation)

Tasks:

1. 3.1 - Biodegradation studies by respirometric tests of selected composites
2. 3.2 - Study of disintegration and monitoring surface and bulk changes along the time
3. 3.3 - Evaluation of recycling and irradiation resistance on biodegradable matrices

Outcomes:

1. Knowledge of the influence of PWB, photo-oxidation, UV-irradiation and reprocessing on biodegradation rate of commercial biodegradable polymers
2. Methods for monitoring, comparing and correlating respirometric and disintegration tests

Deliverables:

1. D3.1 Technical report on UV-resistance (M15) - Written report describing the sterilization treatment and UV-induced changes
2. D3.2 Technical report on the disintegration of selected biodegradable matrices (M18) - Written report on disintegration and soil burial test, with details on the experimental conditions used as well as highlighted chemical-physical changes
3. D3.3 Technical report on the biodegradability of selected biodegradable matrices (M24) - Written report including detailed results relating to the biodegradation tests carried out on the selected matrices as well as evaluation of the influence of PWB and irradiation

Leader: UniSA + all RUs

Objectives:

1. At every stage of product development and manufacturing, to measure:
2. process-relevant fundamental polymer properties (such as viscoelasticity, melting temperature, degradation temperatures, etc.) with rheological and thermal analyses
3. chemical structural and morphological features of products - virgin, recycled and after simulated use by UV exposure/photooxidation - with chemical-physical and microscopy analyses
4. final properties of the products (such as mechanical, optical, gas barrier, migration, etc.) with several physical-mechanical analyses
5. enabling to analyse, optimize and improve processability, recyclability, biodegradability and product performance under end-use conditions.

Tasks:

1. 4.1 - Rheological and thermal characterization (UniSA, UniPA)
2. 4.2 - Chemical-structural and morphological analysis (CNR-CT)
3. 4.3 - Mechanical and functional performance (UniSA, UniPA)

Outcomes:

1. Data on composition, structure, chemical-physical, rheological, and functional properties of samples and lab-scale prototypes
2. Data on recyclability and biodegradability

Deliverables:

1. Image files, graphs, datasheets, recycling protocols, technical reports

Leader: UniSA + all RUs

Objectives:

1. Coordination at administrative level
2. Coordination at technical/scientific level
3. Management of Intellectual Property (IP), exploitation and dissemination of results

Tasks:

1. 5.1 - Management of financial and administrative aspects
2. 5.2 - Coordination of the scientific activities
3. 5.3 - Dissemination and Exploitation

Outcomes:

1. Cooperation on administrative, technical, scientific and dissemination activity

Deliverables:

1. Publications in journal and conference communications
2. Web and social media communications