Publication: Thermal-induced shape memory properties of polylactic acid/thermoplastic polyurethane composites
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Date
2025-08
Authors
Chu Celine
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Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA) is one type of biodegradable polymer with promising environmental benefits; however, its low elongation at break, inherent brittleness and limited shape recovery capabilities restrict its application in functional smart materials. Blending PLA with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) offers a potential solution to enhance flexibility and ductility, yet challenges such as poor compatibility and inadequate thermal responsiveness still persist. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different PLA grades, PLA/TPU blend ratios, and tungsten filler loadings on the thermal, mechanical, and shape memory properties of the resulting compounds. PLA/TPU blends were prepared via melt mixing and compression molding, with tungsten fillers introduced in varying concentrations (0–10 wt%). The samples were characterized using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), tensile testing, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and shape memory tests. Results indicated that a 50/50 PLA/TPU composition provided optimal morphological uniformity and mechanical balance, while the addition of 5 wt% tungsten significantly enhanced thermal conductivity, tensile strength, and shape recovery ratio, achieving a peak recovery of 94.41%. Higher filler loadings led to particle agglomeration, reducing both mechanical performance and shape memory efficiency. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the integration of optimized filler content and compatible PLA/TPU ratios can effectively improve the multifunctional performance of PLA-based composites, making them suitable for a lot of applications.