Influence of interfacial compatibilization caused by epoxidized cardanol on the toughness of poly (lactic acid)/flax fiber blends

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/flax fiber/cardanol (or epoxidized cardanol) blends were prepared by mould injection. Epoxidized cardanol was effective on toughening PLA/flax fiber blends. The maximum notched Izod impact strength of PLA/flax fiber/epoxidized cardanol (80/10/10) blend reached 10.42 +/- 0.61 kJ/m2 i.e. two fold of PLA/flax fiber (90/10) blend (5.18 +/- 0.23 kJ/m2). Also, the elongation at break of PLA/flax fiber/epoxidized cardanol (85/5/10) blend was promoted to 43.76 +/- 8.58 %, which was over four fold of PLA/flax fiber (95/5) blend (9.94 +/- 1.65 %). The improved interfacial compatibility caused by epoxidized cardanol was presumed to be responsible for the superior toughness.

Automated summary

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/flax fiber/cardanol (or epoxidized cardanol) blends were prepared by mould injection. Epoxidized cardanol effectively improved the toughness of PLA/flax fiber blends. The maximum notched Izod impact strength of PLA/flax fiber/epoxidized cardanol (80/10/10) blend reached 10.42 +/- 0.61 kJ/m2, which was double that of PLA/flax fiber (90/10) blend (5.18 +/- 0.23 kJ/m2). Moreover, the elongation at break of PLA/flax fiber/epoxidized cardanol (85/5/10) blend was promoted to 43.76 +/- 8.58 %, over four times higher than PLA/flax fiber (95/5) blend (9.94 +/- 1.65 %). The improved interfacial compatibility attributed to epoxidized cardanol was responsible for the enhanced toughness.