High impact poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene octene) blends prepared by reactive blending. Issue 2 (21st July 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Feng, Yulin; Hu, Yuexin; Yin, Jinghua; Zhao, Guiyan; Jiang, Wei
• Is Part Of: Polymer engineering & science. Volume 53:Issue 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 389
• Page End: 396
• Publication Date: 2012-07-21
• Subjects: Polymer engineering -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.23265
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3888

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Poly(ethylene octene) grafted with glycidyl methacrylate (POE‐<italic>g</italic>‐GMA) was prepared and used to toughen poly (lactic acid) (PLA) via reactive blending. It was found that the notched Izod impact strength of PLA/POE‐<italic>g</italic>‐GMA blends improved dramatically when the content of elastomer was higher than 10 wt%. Reactive compatibilization between PLA and POE‐<italic>g</italic>‐GMA were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and "Molau test, " the results showed the end carboxyl groups of PLA reacted with the epoxide groups of POE‐<italic>g</italic>‐GMA during blending. This considerably improved the compatibilization, leading to better wetting of the dispersed phase by the PLA matrix and finer dispersed POE‐<italic>g</italic>‐GMA particles with narrow distribution. Moreover, the critical interparticle distance (<italic>L</italic>_c) of the dispersed domains for PLA/POE‐<italic>g</italic>‐GMA blends system at room temperature was also identified. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers</p> </abstract>