New approach on the development of plasticized polylactide (PLA): Grafting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) via reactive extrusion

摘要: Abstract In this work, new ways of plasticizing polylactide (PLA) with low molecular poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were developed to improve the ductility PLA while maintaining plasticizer content at maximum 20 wt.% PLA. To end, a reactive blending anhydride-grafted (MAG-PLA) copolymer PEG, chains terminated hydroxyl groups, was performed. During melt-processing, fraction PEG grafted into anhydride-functionalized chains. The role compatibility between and PEG. Reactive extrusion melt-blending neat modified did not induce any dramatic drop weight. in situ grafting PLA/PEG blends showed clear effect on thermal properties It demonstrated by DSC that mobility gained plasticized yielded crystallization. affect process. However, results obtained after second heating an interesting T g when melt blended or 10 wt.% MAG-PLA. latter case, displayed blend shifted even lower temperatures around 14 °C, 60 23 °C, respectively. Regarding viscoelastic viscoplastic properties, presence MAG-PLA does significantly influence behavior Indeed, without MAG-PLA, elastic modulus yield stress decrease, ultimate strain increases addition