Toughness enhancement of poly(lactic acid) by melt blending with natural rubber

Abstract A biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) blend is developed by blending poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and natural rubber (NR) or epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and it is a sustainable substitution in recent years for synthetic polymers. PLA is high in mechanical strength and compostable, but it is highly stiff and brittle. The incorporation of NR or ENR to PLA increases the impact strength and toughness of PLA. However, the disparity in polarity between PLA and elastomer phase like NR and ENR results in TPE blend being incompatible. Hence, compatibilization is essential to improve its polarity and develop interactions. Compatibilizer that composed of two different polymer is known is graft compatibilizer with the aid of grafting agent. The graft compatibilizers are divided into two categories. The first type is made up of one polymer and grafting agent and, the other one is composed of two polymer groups and grafting agent. These two types of graft compatibilizer can be prepared via two different method such as direct melt blending and solution. Apart from this, the TPE blend is produced via the melt blending technique with mixing machines such as internal mixer and extruder. This article has reviewed the preparation of the graft compatibilizer and blending technique of TPE. Based on the findings, the graft compatibilizers has a significant role in improving miscibility and compatibility across blend composed of different phase.

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Improvement of mechanical and impact performance of poly(lactic acid) by renewable modified natural rubber

Journal of Cleaner Production ◽

10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123800 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 276 ◽

pp. 123800

Author(s):

Wasan Tessanan ◽

Ratana Chanthateyanonth ◽

Masayuki Yamaguchi ◽

Pranee Phinyocheep

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Natural Rubber ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Impact Performance

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Biocomposites of Epoxidized Natural Rubber/Poly(lactic acid) Modified with Natural Fillers (Part I)

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22063150 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 3150

Author(s):

Anna Masek ◽

Stefan Cichosz ◽

Małgorzata Piotrowska

Keyword(s):

Tensile Strength ◽

Lactic Acid ◽

Natural Rubber ◽

Epoxidized Natural Rubber ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Uv Aging ◽

High Elasticity ◽

Natural Fillers ◽

Natural Additives

The study aimed to prepare sustainable and degradable elastic blends of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) that were reinforced with flax fiber (FF) and montmorillonite (MMT), simultaneously filling the gap in the literature regarding the PLA-containing polymer blends filled with natural additives. The performed study reveals that FF incorporation into ENR/PLA blend may cause a significant improvement in tensile strength from (10 ± 1) MPa for the reference material to (19 ± 2) MPa for the fibers-filled blend. Additionally, it was found that MMT employment in the role of the filler might contribute to ENR/PLA plasticization and considerably promote the blend elongation up to 600%. This proves the successful creation of the unique and eco-friendly PLA-containing polymer blend exhibiting high elasticity. Moreover, thanks to the performed accelerated thermo-oxidative and ultraviolet (UV) aging, it was established that MMT incorporation may delay the degradation of ENR/PLA blends under the abovementioned conditions. Additionally, mold tests revealed that plant-derived fiber addition might highly enhance the ENR/PLA blend’s biodeterioration potential enabling faster and more efficient growth of microorganisms. Therefore, materials presented in this research may become competitive and eco-friendly alternatives to commonly utilized petro-based polymeric products.

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Mechanical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties of Thermoplastic Starch/Poly(lactic acid/Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Blends

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.970.312 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 970 ◽

pp. 312-316

Author(s):

Sujaree Tachaphiboonsap ◽

Kasama Jarukumjorn

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Impact Strength ◽

Interfacial Adhesion ◽

Tensile Modulus ◽

Thermoplastic Starch ◽

Morphological Properties ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Melt Blending ◽

Elongation At Break ◽

Blending Method

Thermoplastic starch (TPS)/poly (lactic acid) (PLA) blend and thermoplastic starch (TPS)/poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blend were prepared by melt blending method. PLA grafted with maleic anhydride (PLA-g-MA) was used as a compatibilizer to improve the compatibility of the blends. As TPS was incorporated into PLA, elongation at break was increased while tensile strength, tensile modulus, and impact strength were decreased. Tensile properties and impact properties of TPS/PLA blend were improved with adding PLA-g-MA indicating the enhancement of interfacial adhesion between PLA and TPS. With increasing PBAT content, elongation at break and impact strength of TPS/PLA blends were improved. The addition of TPS decreased glass transition temperature (Tg), crystallization temperature (Tc), and melting temperature (Tm) of PLA. Tgand Tcof TPS/PLA blend were decreased by incorporating PLA-g-MA. However, the presence of PBAT reduced Tcof TPS/PLA blend. Thermal properties of TPS/PLA/PBAT blends did not change with increasing PBAT content. SEM micrographs revealed that the compatibilized TPS/PLA blends exhibited finer morphology when compared to the uncompatibilized TPS/PLA blend.

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Thermal and bio-disintegration properties of poly(lactic acid)/natural rubber/organoclay nanocomposites

Applied Clay Science ◽

10.1016/j.clay.2014.02.024 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 93-94 ◽

pp. 78-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Natacha Bitinis ◽

Elena Fortunati ◽

Raquel Verdejo ◽

Ilaria Armentano ◽

Luigi Torre ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Natural Rubber ◽

Poly Lactic Acid

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POSS Fillers as a Factor Influencing on Viscoelastic Properties, Crystallization, and Thermo-Oxidative Degradation of Poly(Lactic Acid)-Epoxidized Natural Rubber PLA/ENR Blend

10.5772/intechopen.92595 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Magdalena Lipińska ◽

Klaudia Toczek ◽

Magdalena Stefaniak

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Natural Rubber ◽

Viscoelastic Properties ◽

Oxidative Degradation ◽

Epoxidized Natural Rubber ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Thermo Oxidative Degradation

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The combined plasticization of jute and tung oil anhydride for jute fiber reinforced poly(lactic acid) composites

Polymers and Polymer Composites ◽

10.1177/09673911211057697 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 096739112110576

Author(s):

Ying Zhou ◽

Can Chen ◽

Lan Xie ◽

Xiaolang Chen ◽

Guangqiang Xiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Physical And Mechanical Properties ◽

Complex Viscosity ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Melt Blending ◽

Sem Images ◽

Pseudoplastic Fluid ◽

Tung Oil ◽

Biodegradable Poly ◽

The Impact

In this work, novel plasticizing biodegradable poly (lactic acid) (PLA) composites were prepared by melt blending of jute and tung oil anhydride (TOA), and the physical and mechanical properties of PLA/jute/TOA composites were tested and characterized. The impact strength of PLA/jute/TOA composites significantly increases with increasing the content of TOA. The SEM images of fracture surface of PLA/jute/TOA composites become rough after the incorporation of TOA. In addition, TOA changes the crystallization temperature and decomposition process of PLA/jute/TOA composites. With increasing the amount of TOA, the value of storage modulus (E′) of PLA/jute/TOA composites gradually increases. The complex viscosity (η*) values for all samples reduce obviously with increasing the frequency, which means that the pure PLA and PLA/jute/TOA composites is typical pseudoplastic fluid. This is attributed to the formation of crosslinking, which restricts the deformation of the composites.

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