TY - JOUR
T1 - Biodegradable compatibilized poly(L-lactide)/thermoplastic polyurethane blends
T2 - design, preparation and property testing
AU - Suthapakti, Kanyarat
AU - Molloy, Robert
AU - Punyodom, Winita
AU - Nalampang, Kanarat
AU - Leejarkpai, Thanawadee
AU - Topham, Paul D.
AU - Tighe, Brian J.
N1 - The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10924-017-1082-6
PY - 2018/5
Y1 - 2018/5
N2 - Biodegradable blends of poly(l-lactide) (PLL) toughened with a polycaprolactone-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer and compatibilized with a purpose-designed poly(l-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLLCL) copolymer were prepared. Both 2-component (PLL/TPU) and 3-component (PLL/TPU/PLLCL) blends of various compositions were prepared by melt mixing, hot-pressed into thin films and their properties tested. The results showed that, although the TPU could toughen the PLL, the blends were immiscible leading to phase separation with the TPU domains distributed in the PLL matrix. However, addition of the PLLCL copolymer could partially compatibilize the blend by improving the interfacial adhesion between the two phases. Biodegradability testing showed that the blends were biodegradable and that the PLLCL copolymer could increase the rate of biodegradation under controlled composting conditions. The 3-component blend of composition PLL/TPU/PLLCL = 90/10/10 parts by weight was found to exhibit the best all-round properties.
AB - Biodegradable blends of poly(l-lactide) (PLL) toughened with a polycaprolactone-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer and compatibilized with a purpose-designed poly(l-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLLCL) copolymer were prepared. Both 2-component (PLL/TPU) and 3-component (PLL/TPU/PLLCL) blends of various compositions were prepared by melt mixing, hot-pressed into thin films and their properties tested. The results showed that, although the TPU could toughen the PLL, the blends were immiscible leading to phase separation with the TPU domains distributed in the PLL matrix. However, addition of the PLLCL copolymer could partially compatibilize the blend by improving the interfacial adhesion between the two phases. Biodegradability testing showed that the blends were biodegradable and that the PLLCL copolymer could increase the rate of biodegradation under controlled composting conditions. The 3-component blend of composition PLL/TPU/PLLCL = 90/10/10 parts by weight was found to exhibit the best all-round properties.
KW - poly(l-lactide)
KW - thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer
KW - poly(l-lactide-co-caprolactone)
KW - immiscible blend
KW - compatibilization
KW - biodegradability
UR - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10924-017-1082-6
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85024500610&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10924-017-1082-6
DO - 10.1007/s10924-017-1082-6
M3 - Article
SN - 1566-2543
VL - 26
SP - 1818
EP - 1830
JO - Journal of Polymers and the Environment
JF - Journal of Polymers and the Environment
ER -