Effect of glycidyl methacrylate-grafted natural rubber on physical properties of polylactic acid and natural rubber blends

Natural rubber (NR) was melt blended with polylactic acid (PLA) at various ratios using an internal mixer. The impact strength and elongation at break of PLA/NR blend dramatically increased with increasing NR content up to 10% (w/w). Glycidyl methacrylate-grafted natural rubber (NR-g-GMA) was used as a compatibilizer for PLA/NR blend. The effects of content and %grafting of NR-g-GMA on mechanical properties of PLA/NR blend were studied. The experimental result showed that the addition of NR-g-GMA in PLA/NR blend significantly improved impact strength and elongation at break of PLA/NR blend when compared with that of neat PLA and PLA/NR blend without NR-g-GMA. The impact strength and elongation at break of PLA/NR blend increased with increasing NR-g-GMA content up to 1% (w/w). Moreover, with increasing % grafting of NR-g-GMA in PLA/NR blend up to 4.35, the impact strength and elongation at break of the blend increased. Morphological and thermal property of PLA, PLA/NR, and PLA/NR/NR-g-GMA were elucidated as well. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012