Photothermal and morphological characterization of PLA/PCL polymer blends

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2015-09, Vol.120 (4), p.1323-1329
• Main Authors: Correa-Pacheco, Z. N., Jiménez-Pérez, J. L., Sabino, M. A., Cruz-Orea, A., Loaiza, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodegradability; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Compatibility; Condensed Matter Physics; Differential scanning calorimetry; Machines; Manufacturing; Morphology; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Polymer blends; Processes; Scanning electron microscopy; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thermal diffusivity; Thermal properties; Thin Films
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-015-9309-7

Nowadays, some synthetic polymers have been replaced by biodegradable polymers in order to avoid environmental contamination. Among these biodegradables polymers, aliphatic polyesters such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) have been widely used. In the present study, solvent-casting films of PLA, PCL and polymer blends with and without compatibilizer (PLA grafted with maleic anhydride) were prepared. The thermal diffusivity ( α ) of each sample was obtained by using the open photoacoustic cell technique. Morphology and thermal properties were determined by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The blends showed lower thermal diffusivity compared to pure polymers. However, when the compatibilizer was used, the highest value of thermal diffusivity was obtained. Also, cold crystallization with the highest value of enthalpy of fusion was observed for the compatibilized sample, which was revealed by DSC. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the thermal diffusivity of these biodegradable polymer blends is reported.