Effect Of Various Additives On The Properties Of Poly (L-Lactic Acid)/Poly (Butylene Succinate-Co-L-Lactate) Blend

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Date
2011-11
Authors
Chou, Pui May
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Polymer blends of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(butylene succinate-co-Llactate) (PBSL) at various blending ratios were prepared through melt mixing method. The blending of PLLA with PBSL resulted in an improvement in the toughness and thermal stability of the PLLA blend. However, flexural strength and modulus decreased with the increase in PBSL content. Annealing was conducted after the optimum blending ratio was determined. Analysis on the annealing revealed that the degree of crystallinity and flexural modulus were enhanced with increasing annealing time. Next, poly(ethylene adipate) (PEA) and poly(tetramethylene ether glycol) (PTMEG) were added as compatibilizers to the PLLA/PBSL blend. The FTIR analysis showed that the physical interaction between PEA and PLLA/PBSL blend occurred and this was due to the presence of secondary force. The flexural strength exhibited a dependency on the extent of the secondary force interaction between PEA and PTMEG with the blends. The effect of PLLA/PBSL blend with varying contents of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) were investigated. An increase in flexural modulus of 4.3% and 8.4% was obtained with the addition of 0.25 phr TiO2 and CNT, respectively. Apatite layer was formed on the surface of the nanocomposite containing TiO2 nanotubes after soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7 days. An increase in the water absorption of the PLLA/PBSL/TiO2 nanocomposite occurred with increased filler loading. The PLLA/PBSL/CNT nanocomposite exhibited an increasing trend of water absorption similar to the PLLA/PBSL blend.
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Keywords
Effect of various additives on the properties , of poly l-lactic acid)/poly butylene succinate-co-l-lactate blend
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