Ultra-tough polylactide-based materials synergistically designed in the presence of rubbery ε-caprolactone-based copolyester and silica nanoparticles

Ultra-tough polylactide-based materials are synergistically obtained through melt-blends of polylactide (PLA), rubber-like poly(epsilon-caprolactone-co-D,L-lactide) copolyester and silica nanoparticles using extrusion techniques. Co-addition of rubber-like copolyester and silica nanoparticles into PLA matrix results in a peculiar alteration for the phase-morphology of the rubbery phase within PLA matrix. Surprisingly, regularly obtained spherical nodules convert into almost continuous features after adding nanoparticles in the PLA-based melt-blend. Toughness of PLA-based materials is considerably enhanced on, at least, 15 times in comparison to unfilled PLA. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.