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Toughening of poly(lactic acid) with the renewable bioplastic poly(trimethylene malonate)
Author(s) -
Eyiler Ersan,
Chu IWei,
Walters Keisha B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.40888
Subject(s) - materials science , thermogravimetric analysis , differential scanning calorimetry , dynamic mechanical analysis , bioplastic , polylactic acid , miscibility , glass transition , polymer chemistry , composite material , ultimate tensile strength , heat deflection temperature , chemical engineering , polymer , izod impact strength test , ecology , physics , biology , engineering , thermodynamics
ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to enhance poly(lactic acid)'s (PLA) flexibility and ductility by blending it with another bioplastic. Poly(trimethylene malonate) (PTM), developed as part of this study, was synthesized from 1,3‐propane diol and malonic acid via melt polycondensation. Blend films of PLA and PTM were prepared by solvent casting from chloroform. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to show shifted phase transitions and a single glass‐transition temperature, indicating miscibility of PTM in the blend films. Morphology and mechanical characterizations of the PLA/PTM blend films were performed by atomic force microscopy using a quantitative nanomechanical property mapping mode, tensile testing, and scanning electron microscopy. Miscible blends exhibited Young's modulus and elongation at break values that can significantly extend the usefulness of PLA in commercial applications. The blending of PTM with PLA resulted in films with a 27‐fold increase in toughness compared with neat PLA film. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131 , 40888.