In Situ Compatibilized Blends of PLA/PCL/CAB Melt-Blown Films with High Elongation: Investigation of Miscibility, Morphology, Crystallinity and Modelling

Nantaprapa Tuancharoensri; Gareth M. Ross; Arisa Kongprayoon; Sararat Mahasaranon; Supatra Pratumshat; Jarupa Viyoch; Narin Petrot; Wuttipong Ruanthong; Winita Punyodom; Paul D. Topham; Brian J. Tighe; Sukunya Ross

doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020303

In Situ Compatibilized Blends of PLA/PCL/CAB Melt-Blown Films with High Elongation: Investigation of Miscibility, Morphology, Crystallinity and Modelling

Nantaprapa Tuancharoensri, Gareth M. Ross, Arisa Kongprayoon, Sararat Mahasaranon, Supatra Pratumshat, Jarupa Viyoch, Narin Petrot, Wuttipong Ruanthong, Winita Punyodom, Paul D. Topham, Brian J. Tighe, Sukunya Ross^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Ternary-blended, melt-blown films of polylactide (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) were prepared from preliminary miscibility data using a rapid screening method and optical ternary phase diagram (presented as clear, translucent, and opaque regions) as a guide for the composition selection. The compositions that provided optically clear regions were selected for melt blending. The ternary (PLA/PCL/CAB) blends were first melt-extruded and then melt-blown to form films and characterized for their tensile properties, tensile fractured-surface morphology, miscibility, crystallinity, molecular weight and chemical structure. The results showed that the tensile elongation at the break (%elongation) of the ternary-blended, melt-blown films (85/5/10, 75/10/15, 60/15/25 of PLA/PCL/CAB) was substantially higher (>350%) than pure PLA (ca. 20%). The range of compositions in which a significant increase in %elongation was observed at 55–85% w/w PLA, 5–20% w/w PCL and 10–25% w/w CAB. Films with high %elongation all showed good interfacial interactions between the dispersed phase (PCL and CAB) and matrix (PLA) in FE-SEM and showed improvements in miscibility (higher intermolecular interaction and mixing) and a decrease in the glass transition temperature, when compared to the low %elongation films. The decrease in M _w and M _n and the formation of the new NMR peaks ( ¹H NMR at 3.68–3.73 ppm and ¹³C NMR at 58.54 ppm) were observed in only the high %elongation films. These are expected to be in situ compatibilizers that are generated during the melt processing, mostly by chain scission. In addition, mathematical modelling was used to study the optimal ratio and cost-effectiveness of blends with optimised mechanical properties. These ternary-blended, melt-blown films have the potential for use in both packaging and medical devices with excellent mechanical performance as well as inherent economic and environmental capabilities.

Original language	English
Article number	303
Number of pages	20
Journal	Polymers
Volume	15
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020303
Publication status	Published - 6 Jan 2023

Bibliographical note

Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Funding statement: This work was supported by Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) (Grant Number FRB660001/0179, Contract Number R2566B004), Global and Frontier Research University (Grant Number R2566C052), Naresuan University and was also supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 871650 (MEDIPOL).

Keywords

elongation
blend
poly(lactic acid)
compatibilizer
films

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https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020303Licence: CC BY 4.0

In Situ Compatibilized Blends
Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Final published version, 9.52 MBLicence: CC BY 4.0

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Tuancharoensri, N., Ross, G. M., Kongprayoon, A., Mahasaranon, S., Pratumshat, S., Viyoch, J., Petrot, N., Ruanthong, W., Punyodom, W., Topham, P. D., Tighe, B. J., & Ross, S. (2023). In Situ Compatibilized Blends of PLA/PCL/CAB Melt-Blown Films with High Elongation: Investigation of Miscibility, Morphology, Crystallinity and Modelling. Polymers, 15(2), Article 303. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020303

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abstract = "Ternary-blended, melt-blown films of polylactide (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) were prepared from preliminary miscibility data using a rapid screening method and optical ternary phase diagram (presented as clear, translucent, and opaque regions) as a guide for the composition selection. The compositions that provided optically clear regions were selected for melt blending. The ternary (PLA/PCL/CAB) blends were first melt-extruded and then melt-blown to form films and characterized for their tensile properties, tensile fractured-surface morphology, miscibility, crystallinity, molecular weight and chemical structure. The results showed that the tensile elongation at the break (%elongation) of the ternary-blended, melt-blown films (85/5/10, 75/10/15, 60/15/25 of PLA/PCL/CAB) was substantially higher (>350%) than pure PLA (ca. 20%). The range of compositions in which a significant increase in %elongation was observed at 55–85% w/w PLA, 5–20% w/w PCL and 10–25% w/w CAB. Films with high %elongation all showed good interfacial interactions between the dispersed phase (PCL and CAB) and matrix (PLA) in FE-SEM and showed improvements in miscibility (higher intermolecular interaction and mixing) and a decrease in the glass transition temperature, when compared to the low %elongation films. The decrease in M w and M n and the formation of the new NMR peaks ( 1H NMR at 3.68–3.73 ppm and 13C NMR at 58.54 ppm) were observed in only the high %elongation films. These are expected to be in situ compatibilizers that are generated during the melt processing, mostly by chain scission. In addition, mathematical modelling was used to study the optimal ratio and cost-effectiveness of blends with optimised mechanical properties. These ternary-blended, melt-blown films have the potential for use in both packaging and medical devices with excellent mechanical performance as well as inherent economic and environmental capabilities.",

keywords = "elongation, blend, poly(lactic acid), compatibilizer, films",

author = "Nantaprapa Tuancharoensri and Ross, {Gareth M.} and Arisa Kongprayoon and Sararat Mahasaranon and Supatra Pratumshat and Jarupa Viyoch and Narin Petrot and Wuttipong Ruanthong and Winita Punyodom and Topham, {Paul D.} and Tighe, {Brian J.} and Sukunya Ross",

note = "Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Funding statement: This work was supported by Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) (Grant Number FRB660001/0179, Contract Number R2566B004), Global and Frontier Research University (Grant Number R2566C052), Naresuan University and was also supported by the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 871650 (MEDIPOL). ",

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Tuancharoensri, N, Ross, GM, Kongprayoon, A, Mahasaranon, S, Pratumshat, S, Viyoch, J, Petrot, N, Ruanthong, W, Punyodom, W, Topham, PD , Tighe, BJ & Ross, S 2023, 'In Situ Compatibilized Blends of PLA/PCL/CAB Melt-Blown Films with High Elongation: Investigation of Miscibility, Morphology, Crystallinity and Modelling', Polymers, vol. 15, no. 2, 303. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020303

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T1 - In Situ Compatibilized Blends of PLA/PCL/CAB Melt-Blown Films with High Elongation: Investigation of Miscibility, Morphology, Crystallinity and Modelling

AU - Tuancharoensri, Nantaprapa

AU - Ross, Gareth M.

AU - Kongprayoon, Arisa

AU - Mahasaranon, Sararat

AU - Pratumshat, Supatra

AU - Viyoch, Jarupa

AU - Petrot, Narin

AU - Ruanthong, Wuttipong

AU - Punyodom, Winita

AU - Topham, Paul D.

AU - Tighe, Brian J.

AU - Ross, Sukunya

N1 - Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Funding statement: This work was supported by Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) (Grant Number FRB660001/0179, Contract Number R2566B004), Global and Frontier Research University (Grant Number R2566C052), Naresuan University and was also supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 871650 (MEDIPOL).

PY - 2023/1/6

Y1 - 2023/1/6

N2 - Ternary-blended, melt-blown films of polylactide (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) were prepared from preliminary miscibility data using a rapid screening method and optical ternary phase diagram (presented as clear, translucent, and opaque regions) as a guide for the composition selection. The compositions that provided optically clear regions were selected for melt blending. The ternary (PLA/PCL/CAB) blends were first melt-extruded and then melt-blown to form films and characterized for their tensile properties, tensile fractured-surface morphology, miscibility, crystallinity, molecular weight and chemical structure. The results showed that the tensile elongation at the break (%elongation) of the ternary-blended, melt-blown films (85/5/10, 75/10/15, 60/15/25 of PLA/PCL/CAB) was substantially higher (>350%) than pure PLA (ca. 20%). The range of compositions in which a significant increase in %elongation was observed at 55–85% w/w PLA, 5–20% w/w PCL and 10–25% w/w CAB. Films with high %elongation all showed good interfacial interactions between the dispersed phase (PCL and CAB) and matrix (PLA) in FE-SEM and showed improvements in miscibility (higher intermolecular interaction and mixing) and a decrease in the glass transition temperature, when compared to the low %elongation films. The decrease in M w and M n and the formation of the new NMR peaks ( 1H NMR at 3.68–3.73 ppm and 13C NMR at 58.54 ppm) were observed in only the high %elongation films. These are expected to be in situ compatibilizers that are generated during the melt processing, mostly by chain scission. In addition, mathematical modelling was used to study the optimal ratio and cost-effectiveness of blends with optimised mechanical properties. These ternary-blended, melt-blown films have the potential for use in both packaging and medical devices with excellent mechanical performance as well as inherent economic and environmental capabilities.

AB - Ternary-blended, melt-blown films of polylactide (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) were prepared from preliminary miscibility data using a rapid screening method and optical ternary phase diagram (presented as clear, translucent, and opaque regions) as a guide for the composition selection. The compositions that provided optically clear regions were selected for melt blending. The ternary (PLA/PCL/CAB) blends were first melt-extruded and then melt-blown to form films and characterized for their tensile properties, tensile fractured-surface morphology, miscibility, crystallinity, molecular weight and chemical structure. The results showed that the tensile elongation at the break (%elongation) of the ternary-blended, melt-blown films (85/5/10, 75/10/15, 60/15/25 of PLA/PCL/CAB) was substantially higher (>350%) than pure PLA (ca. 20%). The range of compositions in which a significant increase in %elongation was observed at 55–85% w/w PLA, 5–20% w/w PCL and 10–25% w/w CAB. Films with high %elongation all showed good interfacial interactions between the dispersed phase (PCL and CAB) and matrix (PLA) in FE-SEM and showed improvements in miscibility (higher intermolecular interaction and mixing) and a decrease in the glass transition temperature, when compared to the low %elongation films. The decrease in M w and M n and the formation of the new NMR peaks ( 1H NMR at 3.68–3.73 ppm and 13C NMR at 58.54 ppm) were observed in only the high %elongation films. These are expected to be in situ compatibilizers that are generated during the melt processing, mostly by chain scission. In addition, mathematical modelling was used to study the optimal ratio and cost-effectiveness of blends with optimised mechanical properties. These ternary-blended, melt-blown films have the potential for use in both packaging and medical devices with excellent mechanical performance as well as inherent economic and environmental capabilities.

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In Situ Compatibilized Blends of PLA/PCL/CAB Melt-Blown Films with High Elongation: Investigation of Miscibility, Morphology, Crystallinity and Modelling

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Keywords

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