Preparation and Characterization of Poly(Lactic Acid)/Ethylene Glycidyl Methacrylate Copolymer Blends

Abstract:

Both tensile and tear strength values of PLAxEGMCy blown-film specimens in machine and transverse directions improve significantly and reach the maximum values as their EGMC contents approach an optimum value of 6 wt%. The melt shear viscosity values of PLAxEGMCy resins measured at varying shear rates are significantly higher than those of the PLA resin and increase consistently with their EGMC contents. FT-IR analysis suggest that the carboxylic acid groups of PLA molecules react with the epoxy groups of EGMC molecules during the reactive-extrusion processes of PLAxEGMCy specimens. Further DMA and morphological analysis of PLAxEGMCy specimens reveal that EGMC molecules are phase-separated with PLA molecules at EGMC contents equal to or more than 2 wt%, since distinguished phase-separated EGMC droplets and tanδ transitions were found on fracture surfaces and tanδ curves of PLAxEGMCy specimens, respectively. Possible reasons accounting for the above interesting properties of the PLA/EGMC specimens are proposed in this study.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 150-151)
• Pages: 139-143
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.150-151.139
• Online since: October 2010
• Authors: Chi Hui Tsou, Ya Ming Li, Wei Hua Yao, Jen Taut Yeh
• Keywords: Functionalized Ethylene Copolymer, Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), Tearing

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