Yanping Hao

Thermal and mechanical properties of polylactide toughened with a butyl acrylate-ethyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer

In this work, a specific polylactide (PLA) 4032D was melt-mixed with a new toughener: butyl acrylate (BA), ethyl acrylate (EA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) copolymer (BA-EA-GMA). DMA tests showed that PLA/BA-EA-GMA blends were partially miscible. The degree of crystallinity of PLA increased while the cold crystallization temperature shifted to higher temperatures with increasing BA-EA-GMA content. The SEM micrographs showed that PLA/BA-EA-GMA blends had a good dispersion and this phenomenon was in good agreement with their higher impact strength. The result showed that the adding of BA-EA-GMA has enhanced the flexibility of PLA/BA-EA-GMA blends as compared with pure PLA. The impact strength was changed from 3.4 kJ/m2 for pure PLA to 29.6 kJ/m2 for 80/20 PLA/BA-EA-GMA blend.

Thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of poly(propylene carbonate) cross-linked with polyaryl polymethylene isocyanate

In this study, cross-linked poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) was prepared using polyaryl polymethylene isocyanate (PAPI) as a cross-linking agent. The gel content, thermal behaviors, mechanical and rheological properties of the cross-linked PPC were investigated. FTIR results showed that the chemical reactions took place between PPC and PAPI and the interactions demonstrated that PPC may be cross-linked with the PAPI. The results of gel content revealed that PPC was partially cross-linked with the PAPI. The cross-linked PPC showed higher glass transition temperature and decomposition temperature compared with pure PPC. Accordingly, the melt flow index gradually decreased and complex viscosity increased with increasing PAPI content. Moreover, the mechanical properties proved also to be enhanced as evidenced by tensile tests. The introduction of small amount of cross-linkable moiety provides an efficient and convenient method to improve the properties of PPC and extend its application area.

Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether adipate as a novel plasticizer for biodegradable polylactide

Polylactide (PLA) was successfully plasticized by blending with diethylene glycol monobutyl ether adipate (DGBEA). The results showed that PLA and DGBEA had close solubility parameters, so PLA was miscible with DGBEA. The dynamic storage modulus and complex viscosity in the melt state of the blends decreased compared with neat PLA. DGBEA lowered the glass transition temperature and the cold crystallization temperature of PLA which were good indications of the extent of the plasticizing effect provided by DGBEA. However, the crystallinity and spherulite size of PLA gradually increased with increasing DGBEA content. In all PLA/plasticizer blends investigated, a stepwise change in the mechanical properties of the system was observed. The elongation at break and impact strength drastically increased, whereas tensile strength and modulus decreased. The DGBEA plasticizer had low tendency to migrate. Thus, the DGBEA was a promising plasticizer alternative for bioplastics as they also retained the biodegradable nature of these biobased materials.

The effect of MDI on the structure and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) and poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) blends

In this work, poly(lactic acid) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT 50/50) were melt-blended in the presence of 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) which acted as a reactive chain extender. The mechanical properties, phase morphology, thermal behavior and crystalline structure of the blends were investigated. Fourier transform infrared measurements revealed that some remarkable chemical interaction had taken place between the two polymers and MDI. Upon increasing the content of MDI, the blends showed increased tensile strength and elongation at break. With the addition of 0–2 wt% MDI, the impact strength of PLA/PBAT-MDI blends increased from 7.0 kJ m−2 to 70.0 kJ m−2. A large shift towards each other in terms of the glass transition temperature was observed by DMA and DSC analysis. SEM micrographs showed not only a reduction in the PBAT phase size but also a significant increase in interfacial adhesion between the PLA and PBAT phases with increasing of MDI. Furthermore, the toughening mechanism of the oriented samples was confirmed by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) images; it was possible for the smaller crystallites of blends to form during the course of chain extension.

Poly(butylene terephthalate) Toughening with Butadiene-Epoxy-Functionalized Methyl Methacrylate Core–Shell Copolymer

Butadiene glycidyl methacrylate-functionalized-methyl methacrylate (PB-g-MG) core–shell copolymer was used to toughen poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and torque tests showed that compatibilization reactions took place between the carboxyl and/or hydroxyl groups of PBT and the epoxy groups of PB-g-MG. Phase morphology results showed that the PB-g-MG core–shell particles dispersed in the PBT matrix uniformly. The addition of PB-g-MG significantly improved the mechanical properties of PBT. The elongation at break and the impact strength increased with the increase of PB-g-MG content. SEM results showed that the shear yielding properties of the PBT matrix was the main toughening mechanism. The relationship between complex viscosity and angular frequency of the PBT/PB-g-MG blends indicated that the melt viscosity was higher than that of pure PBT.

Heat Resistant and Mechanical Properties of Biodegradable Poly(Lactic Acid)/Poly(Butylene Succinate) Blends Crosslinked by Polyaryl Polymethylene Isocyanate

ABSTRACT This work focus on improving the heat resistant and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene succinate) (PLA/PBS) blends using appropriate contents of polyaryl polymethylene isocyanate (PAPI). Some crosslinked structures were formed according to the gel fraction and rheological results, and the crosslinked structures played the role of nucleation site for the blends. And the Vicat softening temperature of the blends gradually increased with increasing PAPI content. Moreover, the addition of PAPI in the PLA/PBS blends produced a few PLA-PBS copolymers which acted as a compatibilizer and enhanced the interfacial adhesion. Thus, the mechanical properties of PLA were significantly improved. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Miscibility, Crystallization Behaviors and Toughening Mechanism of Poly(butylene terephthalate)/Thermoplastic Polyurethane Blends

Blends of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were prepared by melt compounding. The miscibility, crystallization behaviors and toughening mechanism of the PBT/TPU blends were studied. Dynamic mechanical analysis results demonstrated that PBT was immiscible with TPU. Differential scanning calorimetry and wide angle X-ray diffraction results showed that the crystallinity of PBT decreased with increasing TPU content. Furthermore, blending with TPU did not modify the crystal structure of PBT. The small angle X-ray scattering results indicated that the crystal layer thickness decreased and the amorphous layer thickness increased with increasing TPU content, indicating that TPU mainly resided in the interlamellar region of PBT spherulites in the blends. An obvious improvement in toughness of PBT was achieved with addition of TPU. Neat PBT had elongation at break and impact strength of about 15 % and 2.9 kJ/m2, respectively. However, the elongation at break and impact strength of the 70/30 PBT/TPU blend reached 410 % and 62.9 kJ/m2, respectively. The morphology of the PBT/TPU blends after tensile and impact tests was investigated, and the corresponding toughening mechanism is discussed. It was found that the PBT showed obvious shear yielding in the blend during the tensile and impact tests, which induced dissipation of energy and, therefore, led to the improvement in toughness of the PBT/TPU blends.

Crystallization behavior, rheology, mechanical properties, and enzymatic degradation of poly(L-lactide)/poly(D-lactide)/glycidyl methacrylate grafted poly(ethylene octane) blends

Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/poly(D-lactide) (PDLA)/poly(ethylene octene) grafted with glycidyl methacrylate (GPOE) were prepared by simple melt blending method at PDLA loadings from 1 to 5 wt%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) demonstrated the formation of the stereocomplex in the blends. The addition of PDLA led to the increase of nucleation density from polarized microscope (POM) observations. Rheological measurements indicated that the blends exhibited a rheological fluid-solid transition and an enhanced elastic behavior in that ternary system as the PDLA loadings reached up to 5 wt%. By adding 1-2 wt% PDLA, the ternary system has better tensile and impact properties. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) results showed that SC crystal formation and its effect on the enhancement of thermal stability at higher temperature. It is interesting that the enzymatic degradation rates have been enhanced clearly in the PLLA/PDLA/GPOE blends than in the PLLA/GPOE blend, which may be of great use and significance for the wider practical application of PLLA/GPOE blends.

Effect of Epoxy Resin on the Thermal, Mechanical and Rheological Properties of Polybutylene Terephthalate/Glycidyl Methacrylate Functionalized Methyl Methacrylate-butadiene Blend

Epoxy resin was used to modify polybutylene terephthalate(PBT) and glycidyl methacrylate functionalized methyl methacrylate-butadiene(MB-g-GMA) blend. Results show that MB-g-GMA dispersed in PBT matrix uniformly and PBT/MB-g-GMA/epoxy blends reveal good compatibility. However, the added epoxy resin restricted the mobility of PBT macromolecular chains during the growth process of the crystal, which reduced the final crystallinity of PBT. The PBT/MB-g-GMA blend containing 1%(mass fraction) epoxy resin exhibited good mechanical properties. For example, the notched impact strength of the PBT/MB-g-GMA blend with 1%(mass fraction) epoxy resin was about 2 times that of PBT/MB-g-GMA blend. Sanning electron microscope(SEM) results show that the shear yielding of the PBT matrix and the cavitations of rubber particles were the major toughening mechanisms. The chemical reaction between PBT and epoxy resin induced the high complex viscosity and storage modulus of PBT/MB-g-GMA blend.