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Improvement in toughness and crystallization of poly( L ‐lactic acid) by melt blending with poly(epichlorohydrin‐ co ‐ethylene oxide)
Author(s) -
Zhang Kunyu,
Ran Xianghai,
Wang Xuemei,
Han Changyu,
Han Lijing,
Wen Xin,
Zhuang Yugang,
Dong Lisong
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.22009
Subject(s) - materials science , crystallinity , crystallization , rheology , toughness , composite material , lactic acid , compatibilization , ethylene oxide , polylactic acid , epichlorohydrin , copolymer , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , polymer , polymer blend , biology , bacteria , engineering , genetics
Melt blending of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(epichlorohydrin‐ co ‐ethylene oxide) copolymers (ECO) was performed to improve the toughness and crystallization of PLA. Thermal and scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that PLA and ECO were not thermodynamically miscible but compatible to some extent. The addition of a small amount of ECO accelerated the crystallization rate and increased the final crystallinity of PLA in the blends. Significant enhancement in toughness and flexibility of PLA were achieved by the incorporation of the ECO elastomer. When 20 wt% ECO added, the impact strength increased from 5 kJ/m 2 of neat PLA to 63.9 kJ/m 2 , and the elongation at break increased from 5% to above 160%. The failure mode changed from brittle fracture of neat PLA to ductile fracture of the blend. Rheological measurement showed that the melt elasticity and viscosity of the blend increased with the concentration of ECO. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers.