Effects of compatibilizer on the mechanical, rheological, and shape memory behaviors of poly(lactic acid) and poly(MnBM) blends

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2020-04, Vol.137 (16), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Kim, Sung Kyu, Jang, Robin, Kim, Woo Nyon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: blends; Compatibility; Compatibilizers; Energy recovery; Materials science; mechanical properties; Mixtures; Morphology; Polylactic acid; Polymers; Polymethyl methacrylate; Rheological properties; Rheology; Shape memory
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.48591

ABSTRACT The effects of compatibilizer on the morphological, mechanical, rheological, and shape memory properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(methyl methacrylate‐block‐n‐butyl acrylate‐block‐methyl methacrylate) (Poly(MnBM)) (80/20) blend were investigated. From the morphological results, the addition of 1 wt% SAN‐MAH as a compatibilizer showed minimum Poly(MnBM) domain size among the blends with the SAN‐MAH in the amounts from 0 to 7 wt%. Tensile and flexural strengths, and complex viscosity of the blends showed maximum when the SAN‐MAH content was 1 wt%, which suggested the increased compatibility between the PLA and Poly(MnBM) phases. From the above results, the optimum compatibilizer content of the PLA and Poly(MnBM) blend was 1 wt%. The recovery ratio of tensile energy was found to be 83 and 56% for the PLA/Poly(MnBM) blend with and without the SAN‐MAH (1 wt%), respectively. Upon blending the PLA and Poly(MnBM) (80/20) with SAN‐MAH (1 wt%), the increase of recovered tensile energy was observed, and that the brittleness of PLA was improved to be ductile which resulted an improved shape memory behavior of the blend. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48591.