Poly (ethylene-butylacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) reaction compatibilized poly (lactic acid)/poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-4-hydroxybutyrate) blends with enhanced mechanical property, biodegradability and thermal stability

Abstract

Compatibilized poly (lactic acid)/poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-4-hydroxybutyrate) (PLA/P (3HB-co-4HB)) blends with poly (ethylene-butylacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) (PTW) as compatibilizer were prepared by one-step melt blending in a twin-screw extruder. The mechanical properties, miscibility, phase morphology, thermal behavior, rheological behavior and degradation behavior of the blends were investigated. The reactive blending of epoxy groups in PTW and the carboxyl group or hydroxyl group in PLA/P (3HB-co-4HB) promotes the compatibility. The introduction of PTW enhances the initial thermal decomposition temperature of the P (3HB-co-4HB) phase in the PLA/P (3HB-co-4HB) blends and broadens the processable temperature range. Moreover, with the flexibility of PLA/P (3HB-co-4HB) blends greatly improved, their biodegradability has not been compromised. From the above perspectives, high-performance biodegradable PLA/P (3HB-co-4HB)/PTW displays promising prospects in fast-moving consumer goods and biomedical fields.