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Sustainable and high‐performance ternary blends from polylactide, CO 2 ‐based polyester and microbial polyesters with different chemical structure
Author(s) -
Zuo Huijie,
Liu Juyang,
Huang Dong,
Bai Yuanbin,
Cui Liang,
Pan Li,
Zhang Kunyu,
Wang Huaiyuan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2642-4169
pISSN - 2642-4150
DOI - 10.1002/pol.20210175
Subject(s) - miscibility , materials science , polyester , ultimate tensile strength , toughness , chemical engineering , ternary operation , polymer blend , compatibilization , composite material , copolymer , polymer , computer science , engineering , programming language
Herein, high‐performance sustainable ternary blends were prepared via a melt blending method from completely biodegradable polyesters, namely commercial polylactide (PLA), poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) and a series of poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs), including poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), poly(3‐hydoxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) and two types of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate) (P 34 HB) having different 3HB molar ratios. The miscibility, phase structure, mechanical and thermal properties of the blends were investigated to deeply understand the influence of the blend compositions and species of PHAs on the structure and physical performance of the multiphase blends. Thermal and morphological analysis revealed that the PLA, PPC and PHAs components showed partial miscibility with each other, especially the blend with P 34 HB of a low 3HB ratio. Remarkable enhancement in the ductility and toughness of PLA was gained by the addition of PPC and P 34 HB. An optimum tensile strain of 171% was achieved for the PLA/PPC/P 34 HB (60/30/10) blend, while PLA/PPC/P 34 HB (60/10/30) blend showed the highest impact strength with a value of 45 kJ m −2 , which is 14 times higher than that of PLA. Synergistic toughening from the flexible PPC and P 34 HB phase with a degree of interfacial compatibilization played an effective role in enhancing the mechanical performance of the ternary blends.