Poly(lactic acid)/polypropylene and compatibilized poly(lactic acid)/polypropylene blends prepared by a vane extruder: analysis of the mechanical properties, morphology and thermal behavior

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid)/polypropylene and compatibilized poly(lactic acid)/polypropylene blends prepared by a vane extruder: analysis of the mechanical properties, morphology and thermal behavior Abstract: Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/polypropylene (PP) blends with different weight fractions were prepared by a novel vane extruder. The mechanical properties, morphology, crystallization behavior and thermal stability of the blends were investigated. The tensile strength, flexural strength and elongation at break decreased nonlinearly when the PP content was not more than 50 wt% and then increased with an increase in the PP content. The flexural modulus decreased with increasing PP weight fraction. The PLA/PP 90:10 blend exhibited the optimum impact strength. Scanning electron microscopy measurements revealed that the PLA/PP blends were immiscible. Phase separation occurred significantly at a blend ratio of 50:50. Regarding the PLA/PP 90:10 blend, the mean diameter of the disperse-phase PP particles was the smallest at 1.11 μ m. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements showed that low content of PP enhanced the crystallization of PLA. The PLA component in the blends impeded the crystallization of PP when PP was used as the matrix. The thermogravimetric analysis measurement involved a two-step decomposition process of the blends. The thermal resistance of the blends was improved by compounding with PP. As compatibilizers, both the maleic anhydride-grafted PP and the ethylene/ n -butyl acrylate/ glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer helped improve the mechanical properties, crystallization property and thermal resistance of the PLA/PP blends.

Compatibilization of Immiscible PA6/PLA Nanocomposites Using Graphene Oxide and PTW Compatibilizer for High Thermal and Mechanical Applications

“…Many studies have been done to overcome these disadvantages and expand the range of applications of PLA, including the mechanisms of toughening, copolymerization, formation of the spatial complex of PLA, the addition of nanoparticles and nucleating agents and blending with polymers [11,12,22]. Among all these approaches, polymer blending has been considered more due to the practicality of this method in making new materials with various and custom properties as well as its cost-effectiveness [23][24][25]. The use of blends is very common in industry, because blending is a low-cost method for combining the properties of blended components into single materials [23].…”

Compatibilization of immiscible PA6/PLA Nanocomposites using graphene oxide and PTW compatibilizer for high thermal and mechanical applications

“…Many studies have been done to overcome these disadvantages and expand the range of applications of PLA, including the mechanisms of toughening, copolymerization, formation of the spatial complex of PLA, the addition of nanoparticles and nucleating agents and blending with polymers [11,12,22]. Among all these approaches, polymer blending has been considered more due to the practicality of this method in making new materials with various and custom properties as well as its cost-effectiveness [23][24][25]. The use of blends is very common in industry, because blending is a low-cost method for combining the properties of blended components into single materials [23].…”

“…The use of blends is very common in industry, because blending is a low-cost method for combining the properties of blended components into single materials [23]. Blending PLA with engineering polymers is an effective way to overcome most of its limitations [24]. In recent years, there has been much research on PLA blends with engineering polymers such as polycarbonates [26], polymethyl methacrylate [27], polyesters [28] and polyamides (PAs) [7,29,30].…”

Statistical Study on the Interaction Factors of Polypropylene-Graft-Maleic Anhydride (PP-g-MA) with Graphene Nanoplatelet (GNP) at Various Poly(Lactic Acid)/Polypropylene (PLA/PP) Blends Ratio

“…Choudary et al [11] revealed that the mechanical properties of PLA have improved significantly with PP in the matrix blends. In terms of thermal stability, Chen et al reported that PLA/PP blends improved as measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) [12]. It is worth noting that PP is thermally stable as compared to PLA; for example, PP started to degrade at 418.8 °C, whereas PLA was 334.3 °C.…”