Blending and plasticising effects on the behaviour of poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε-caprolactone)

Abstract

Polymer blending is one of the most convenient methods to be used to overcome the limitations of some single properties of polymers and to achieve the combinations required for specific applications. Another feasible common practice is the incorporation of additives of low molecular weight such as plasticisers to impart flexibility, improve toughness and lower the glass transition temperature ( Tg). This study focused on the effects of blending and plasticising on the crystallisation behaviour of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). PCL with longer degradation time compared with other polymers was blended with PLA to overcome the limitation of its brittleness and poor thermal stability. Acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) and acetyl triethyl citrate (TEC) were used as plasticiser in PLA/PCL blends. The rigid and plasticised blends at various ratios were analysed by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. The results revealed a slight increase in the degree of crystallinity and a significant increase in the Tg of PLA due to the addition of PCL. The addition of ATBC has promoted a decrease in thermal stability of the blends. The slight increase in the degree of crystallinity suggested that PCL acted as a nucleating agent. The citrate plasticisers were shown to lower the Tg and have much more enhanced the crystallisation of PLA. Moreover, the rigid and plasticised blends were shown to be partially miscible.

Developments of biobased plasticizers for compostable polymers in the green packaging applications: A review

“…CAPs derivatives are widely used as eco‐friendly plasticizers in various applications including biodegradable polymers food additives 50 . For food contact films various types of commercial CAPs such as TEC, TBC, ATEC, and ATBC were used for compostable polymers including PLA, 62,66–75 PHAs, 31,68,76–81 cellulose acetate, 82–84 PCL, 85 PBS, 66 and starch 86–88 …”

“…The plasticization effect of CAPs on PLA systems including PLA/soy protein concentrate (SPC)/poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) composites, 74 PLA/PBAT blend, 91 PHB/PLA blends, 69,92 PLA and silica aerogel, 93 natural rubber/PLA, 94 and PLA/PCL 75 were also reported. Most of these studies described the good efficiency of these plasticizers in PLA blend.…”

Effect of Almond Skin Waste and Glycidyl Methacrylate on Mechanical and Color Properties of Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Poly(lactic acid) Blends

“…Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable and bio-based aliphatic polyester produced using the ring-opening polymerization of lactide [ 6 , 7 ]. It is one of the most popular examples of renewable polymers used for plastic products’ development.…”

Preparation and properties of poly(lactic acid)/lignin‐modified polyvinyl acetate composites

“…Many researchers have focused on the design and preparation of new PLA composite materials with excellent properties by chemical or physical methods. There are a lot of reports on using rubbers including natural rubber(NR), 4–6 Poly(butylene succinate)(PBS), 7–9 thermoplastic elastomer poly(ester amide), 10–12 epoxidized soybean oil, 13–15 thermoplastic polyurethane 16–18 by melting blending or directly reactive copolymerization of PLA with other polymers including polyethylene glycol (PEG), 19–21 poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT), 22–24 and Poly(ɛ‐caprolactone) 25–27 to improve the toughness of PLA. Chen et al prepared a poly (L‐lactic acid‐polyethylene glycol) (PLLA‐PEGs) copolymer by direct melt polymerization using a combination of p‐toluenesulfonic acid, SnCl 2 , and Sn(Oct) 2 as the catalyst, L‐lactic acid prepolymer, and polyethylene glycol as raw materials.…”