The Effect of Poly(Ethylene Succinate) on Mechanical Properties of PLLA/PES Blend Prepared by Melt-Blending

Abstract

Fully biodegradable poly(L-lactide) and poly(ethylene succinate) (PLLA/PES) blends were prepared via melt-blending using PLLA and PES as reactants in a stainless steel chamber. The prepared PLLA/PES blend, as well as neat PLLA and PES, was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to confirm the structure and the crystallization of PLLA in the blend. The mechanical properties of PLLA/PES blends were determined by bending and tensile tests and the effects of PES content on the mechanical properties of PLLA/PES blends were investigated. It was found that blending some amount of PES could significantly improve the elongation at break while still keeping considerably high strength and modulus. With increasing PES content, both strength and modulus gradually decreased; however the elongation at break significantly increased. SEM was used to examine the morphology of fracture surfaces of PLLA/PES blends.

Keywords:

• blend
• mechanical properties
• morphology
• poly(ethylene succinate)
• poly(L-lactide)

Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Central South University, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Projects No. 50774096 and 50604017) and the Postgraduate Education and Innovation Project from Central South University, P.R. China (Project No. 1343-74334000011).