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Mechanical, thermal, and biodegradability properties of PLA/modified starch blends
Author(s) -
Gao Huliang,
Hu Shan,
Su Fuhui,
Zhang Jun,
Tang Guannan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.21241
Subject(s) - vicat softening point , materials science , ultimate tensile strength , composite material , thermal stability , toughness , izod impact strength test , maleic anhydride , starch , biodegradation , melt flow index , softening point , polymer , copolymer , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Three different kinds of modified starch (MS) were prepared as fillers to assess the compatibility between them and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) resin. The blends were prepared by incorporating 15 wt% of the MS into PLA using a twin‐screw extruder. Through morphology analysis, it can be seen that the dispersion state of MS granules was greatly different. Investigations of thermal behavior indicated that the addition of MS decreased thermal properties which found expression in the decrease of melting temperature and vicat softening temperature (VST). But thermal stability of PLA/maleic anhydride grafted starch (MA‐ g ‐ST) was slightly higher than those of other blends. PLA/MA‐ g ‐ST blend exhibited the highest notched impact strength, elongation at break, and tensile strength, which means MA‐ g ‐ST was suitable as a filler improving the toughness of PLA. It was also proved that biodegradability rate of blends increased dramatically and reached up to 1.80, 1.89, 1.44 g day −1 after 60 days, respectively. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers