Papers by Author: Tetsuo Takayama

Abstract: PLA/PCL and PLA/PCL/LTI blends were developed to improve the fracture properties of biodegradable PLA. LTI was blended to improve the miscibility of PLA and PCL. It was shown that the fracture toughness values were dramatically increased due to LTI addition. SEM results also exhibited that PCL spherulites decreases due to LTI addition and therefore, void formation is reduced and local stress concentration is suppressed, resulting in the improvement of the toughness values. The improved miscibility is also closely related to the enhancement of ductile deformation; as a result, the fracture toughness is increased.

Abstract: Attempts have been made to improve the impact resistance
of biodegradable thermoplastic polymer, PLA. A ductile biodegradable polymer, PCL, has been used to improve such property of PLA by using blending technique. Details of the impact fracture properties and mechanisms of PLA/PCL blends, however, have not fully been understood yet. Recently, it was also found that LTI can improve the immiscibility between PLA and PCL. In this study, PLA/PCL and PLA/PCL/LTI blends were prepared, and their impact fracture toughness values were measured
to assess the effect of PCL content and LTI addition on the impact resistance. Fracture mechanisms of the polymer blends were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy.