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. 2019 Aug 28;11(9):1416.
doi: 10.3390/polym11091416.

PLA/PHB Blends: Biocompatibilizer Effects

Alessandra D'Anna  1 , Rossella Arrigo  1 , Alberto Frache  2
Affiliations

PLA/PHB Blends: Biocompatibilizer Effects

Alessandra D'Anna et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to formulate a fully bio-based blend with superior properties, based on two immiscible polymers: polylactic acid (PLA) and poly-hydroxy butyrate (PHB). To improve the miscibility between the polymeric phases, two different kinds of compatibilizers with a different chemical structure were used, namely, an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer in the form of flakes and a mixture of two liquid surfactants with a variable lipophilic-hydrophilic index. The morphology of the blends and their thermal, mechanical, and rheological behavior were evaluated, aiming at assessing the influence of the selected compatibilizers on the microstructure and final properties of the systems. Morphological analyses of the compatibilized blends indicated that the liquid surfactant is more effective than the solid copolymer in inducing morphology refinement, as also suggested by results coming from rheological measurements. Furthermore, thermal analyses demonstrated that the presence of both kinds of compatibilizers induced an enhancement of the crystallinity content of blends. Finally, a remarkable increase of the elastic modulus values was obtained for the compatibilized blends as compared to the pure counterparts, with a consequent significant enhancement of the HDT values.

Keywords: HDT; PHB; PLA; natural additives; polymer blends.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms recorded during the second heating scan for (a) Syn- and (b) HBL12-containing systems, compared to that of the polylactic acid/poly-hydroxy butyrate (PLA/PHB) blend.
Figure 2
Figure 2
DSC thermograms recorded during the second heating scan for virgin (a) PHB and (b) PLA.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Thermomechanical measurement (DMA) traces for (a) Syn- and (b) HBL12-containing systems, compared to those of the PLA/PHB blend.
Figure 4
Figure 4
G’ curves for (a) PLA/PHB and PLA/PHB/0.1SYN and (b) for PLA/PHB and PLA/PHB/1HLB12, and (c) α as a function of frequency for PLA/PHB and PLA/PHB/1HLB12.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Micrographs of: (a) PLA/PHB, (b) PLA/PHB0.1SYN, and (c) PLA/PHB/1HLB12.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Particle size distribution of the neat blend and 0.1Syn-containing system.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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