Bio-based poly(L-lactide)/poly(amide-11) blends (PLA/PA11, 80/20 w/w) and poly(L-lactide)/poly(amide-6) blends (PLA/PA6, 80/20 w/w) are processed by twin-screw extrusion followed by injection-moulding and key rheological parameters controlling their morphologie are investigated. The same work is done using the same PLA modified by a multi-step reactive extrusion route with an epoxy-based chain extender to obtain modified poly(lactide)/poly(amide-11) (PLA-j/PA11 80/20 w/w) blends. The morphologies of the extruded materials and of the injection moulded parts are characterized by SEM and their formation is deeply discussed via rheological investigation to highlight the contribution of viscosity, elasticity and interfacial tension. The existence of a critical shear rate related to the transition from nodular to fibrillar morphology is highlighted and the results are in good agreement with the condition of fibrillation Ca/Ca (crit) $ 4. Interestingly, with the exception of PLA/PA6 specimens, all blends obviously display uniform thin-thread fibrillar morphologies after injection-moulding. Compared with pure PLA, a drastic increase of the ductility was observed in the blends exhibiting a fiberlike structure without meanwhile sacrificing the stiffness. This study confirms that, through the appropriate choice of blend components (viscosity and elasticity ratio, flow conditions, interfacial tensions) the in situ fibrillation concept provides access, at a reasonable cost, to new materials with improved thermomechanical performances, without sacrificing weight and ability to be recycled.
Thin films with (nano)fibrillar morphologies were successfully obtained in fully‐biobased poly(butylene succinate‐co‐adipate)/poly(amide‐11) blends (PBSA/PA11, 85/15 wt/wt) using an extrusion‐blowing process. Impacts of PA11 grade and take‐up ratio on the morphology of PBSA/PA11 were particularly highlighted. Scanning electron microscopy analyses indicated that PA11 with high melt volume‐flow rates are beneficial to the development of (nano)fibrillar morphologies in PBSA/PA11 blown film. On the contrary, unstable film blowing processing without fibrillar morphologies was attested for PA11 with low melt volume‐flow rates. Increasing the take‐up ratio during extrusion‐blowing of PBSA/PA11 clearly generates finer PA11 (nano)fibrils into PBSA. Fibril diameters down to 300 nm could be reached with an optimal PA11 grade promoting enhanced mechanical properties (higher ductility and toughness). The formation of stable PA11 (nano)fibrils into PBSA is discussed via rheological assessments of viscosity/elasticity ratio. A specific attention was finally paid to the PBSA strain‐hardening behavior in PBSA/PA11 using elongational rheological tests. PA11 (nano)fibrillation helps maintaining the strong PBSA strain‐hardening and thus play a major role on the processability of PBSA/PA11 blends by extrusion blowing. As a conclusion, the PA11 grade represents a crucial parameter to control the production of PBSA/PA11 blown films with refined (nano)fibrillar structures and enhanced physico‐chemical properties.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.