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. 2018 Jan 17;11(1):148.
doi: 10.3390/ma11010148.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) Based Tear Resistant and Biodegradable Flexible Films by Blown Film Extrusion

Norma Mallegni  1 , Thanh Vu Phuong  2 , Maria-Beatrice Coltelli  3 , Patrizia Cinelli  4   5 , Andrea Lazzeri  6
Affiliations

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) Based Tear Resistant and Biodegradable Flexible Films by Blown Film Extrusion

Norma Mallegni et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was melt mixed in a laboratory extruder with poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) in the presence of polypropylene glycol di glycidyl ether (EJ400) that acted as both plasticizer and compatibilizer. The process was then scaled up in a semi-industrial extruder preparing pellets having different content of a nucleating agent (LAK). All of the formulations could be processed by blowing extrusion and the obtained films showed mechanical properties dependent on the LAK content. In particular the tearing strength showed a maximum like trend in the investigated composition range. The films prepared with both kinds of blends showed a tensile strength in the range 12-24 MPa, an elongation at break in the range 150-260% and a significant crystallinity.

Keywords: biodegradable polymer blends; blown film extrusion; mechanical properties; nucleating agent; plasticizer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SEM micrographs onto cryogenic fractures samples of Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and PLA/poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blends prepared in a laboratory extruder also in the presence of EJ400: (a) PLA/PBAT blend; (b) PLA/EJ400/PBAT blend; (c) PLA/PBS blend; (d) PLA/EJ400/PBS.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Tensile tests related to blown extruded films: (a) Stress at break of PLA/EJ400/PBAT films; (b) Elongation at break of PLA/EJ400/PBAT films; (c) stress at break of PLA/EJ400/PBS films; (d) Elongation at break of PLA/EJ400/PBS films
Figure 3
Figure 3
Trouser tear tests related to blown extruded film: (a) PLA/EJ400/PBAT films; (b) PLA/Ej400/PBS films.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Heating thermogram of a PLA/EJ400/PBAT blown extruded film containing dimethyl 5-sulfoisophthalate, potassium salt (LAK).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Heating thermogram of a PLA/EJ400/PBS blend and of a PLA/EJ400/PBS blend containing LAK.
Figure 6
Figure 6
SEM micrographs of cryogenic fractures films based on PLA/EJ400/PBAT containing different amount of LAK: (a) 1% LAK; (b) 2% LAK; (c) 3% LAK; (d) 4% LAK.
Figure 7
Figure 7
SEM micrographs of cryogenic-fracture films based on PLA/EJ400/PBS containing different amount of LAK: (a) 0% LAK; (b) 1% LAK; (c) 3% LAK; (d) 5% LAK.
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