Improving the stereocomplexation and toughness of poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(D-lactic acid) blends via melt blending with ethylene/methyl acrylate/glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer

In this study, the ethylene/methyl acrylate/glycidyl methacrylate (EGA) terpolymer was performed to improve the stereocomplexation and toughness of poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(D-lactic acid) (PLLA/PDLA). The effects of EGA presence on the competing formations and crystallization kinetics of homocrystallites (HCs) and stereocomplexes (SCs), phase morphology and mechanical properties of PLLA/PDLA blends were investigated. For non-isothermal melt crystallization, the degree of SC crystallinity of PLLA/PDLA blends increased after PLLA/PDLA blending with EGA. For both isothermal and non-isothermal cold crystallization, the crystallization rate of PLLA/PDLA blends increased as the mass fraction of EGA in the blends grew from 10% to 30%. The incorporation of EGA was observed to facilitate the HC-to-SC melt reorganization of PLLA/PDLA blends; moreover, a significant enhancement in the toughness of the PLLA/PDLA matrix was achieved by incorporating the EGA elastomer. When EGA was added to produce a blend containing 30 wt%, the blend's impact strength increased from 6.0 (for PLLA/PDLA) to 44.9 kJ/m(2). Overall, this study provides effective guidance for achieving the melt-processability of PLLA/PDLA blends characterized by improved stereocomplexation ability and toughness.

Automated summary

This study utilized EGA terpolymer to enhance the stereocomplexation and toughness of PLLA/PDLA blends, resulting in increased crystallization rate and improved melt reorganization from HC to SC as EGA mass fraction grew. The addition of EGA also significantly enhanced the toughness of the blend while increasing impact strength.