Phase Structure and Properties of Toughened Poly(L-Lactic Acid)/Glycidyl Methacrylate Grafted Poly(Ethylene Octane) Blends Adjusted by the Stereocomplex

Abstract

A detailed study of reactively toughened poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA)/glycidyl methacrylate grafted poly(ethylene octane) blends is reported, and stereocomplex (SC) formed from PDLA incorporated was used to adjust the phase morphology. It was found that blends with 20 wt% of POE-GMA exhibited highest impact strength and incorporation of PDLA with 1 wt% had further improved the impact toughness and tensile strength. SEM revealed that SC had induced the crushing of the dispersed phase-size of the blends. The simultaneous enhancement of impact and tensile strength induced by SC would provide a new strategy to accelerate the commercial use of toughened PLLA blends.

Keywords:

• Blends
• Phase structure
• Poly(ethylene octane)
• Poly(L-lactic acid)
• Stereocomplex
• Toughness

Notes

^a PLLA/POE-GMA/PDLA.

^a PLLA/POE-GMA/PDLA.

^a Cold-crystallization peak temperature.

^b Melting peak temperature of HC.

^c Melting peak temperature of SC.