With excellent comprehensive properties,
polylactic acid/poly(butylene
adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) blends
have found wide applications as degradable materials. During the processing
procedure, a third component compatibilizer is introduced to improve
the compatibility and mechanical properties of PLA/PBAT blends. In
this work, environmentally friendly epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) is
used for the compatibilization of PLA/PBAT blends through the chemical
reaction of ESO with terminated hydroxyl groups of the two phases.
Through the adjustment of the amounts of ESO, the compatibilization
effect on the properties of PLA/PBAT blends is studied. The compatibilization
mechanism of ESO was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
and differential scanning calorimetry testing, and the results prove
that ESO could react with PLA and PBAT to form a chemical bonding
interface. The PLA/PBAT blends compatibilized with ESO demonstrated
a significant increase in tensile strength, elongation at break, and
notched impact strength.
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