Influence of Chain-Extension Reaction on Stereocomplexation, Mechanical Properties and Heat Resistance of Compressed Stereocomplex-Polylactide Bioplastic Films

Improvement in Crystallization, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of Flexible Poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide) Bioplastic with Zinc Phenylphosphate

Poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide) (PLLA-PEG-PLLA) shows promise for use in bioplastic applications due to its greater flexibility over PLLA. However, further research is needed to improve PLLA-PEG-PLLA's properties with appropriate fillers. This study employed zinc phenylphosphate (PPZn) as a multi-functional filler for PLLA-PEG-PLLA. The effects of PPZn addition on PLLA-PEG-PLLA characteristics, such as crystallization and thermal and mechanical properties, were investigated. There was good phase compatibility between the PPZn and PLLA-PEG-PLLA. The addition of PPZn improved PLLA-PEG-PLLA's crystallization properties, as evidenced by the disappearance of the cold crystallization temperature, an increase in the crystallinity, an increase in the crystallization temperature, and a decrease in the crystallization half-time. The PLLA-PEG-PLLA's thermal stability and heat resistance were enhanced by the addition of PPZn. The PPZn addition also enhanced the mechanical properties of the PLLA-PEG-PLLA, as demonstrated by the rise in ultimate tensile stress and Young's modulus. We can conclude that the PPZn has potential for use as a multi-functional filler for the PLLA-PEG-PLLA composite due to its nucleating-enhancing, thermal-stabilizing, and reinforcing ability.

Synergistic effects of PEG middle-blocks and talcum on crystallizability and thermomechanical properties of flexible PLLA-b-PEG-b-PLLA bioplastic

In this study, talcum was melt-blended with a flexible poly(l-lactide)-b-polyethylene glycol-b-poly(l-lactide) triblock copolymer (PLLA-PEG-PLLA) with 1, 2, 4, and 8 wt% talcum, for improvement of the crystallization and thermomechanical properties of PLLA-PEG-PLLA compared with PLLA. The crystallizability of PLLA-PEG-PLLA/talcum composites was better than that of PLLA/talcum composites as determined from differential scanning calorimetry. X-ray diffractometry showed that the PLLA-PEG-PLLA/talcum films had a higher degree of crystallinity than the PLLA/talcum films. PEG middle-blocks and talcum showed a synergistic effect for crystallization of PLLA end-blocks. The PLLA-PEG-PLLA/talcum films showed better thermomechanical properties than those of the PLLA/talcum films as determined from dynamic mechanical analysis. This was confirmed from the results of dimensional stability to heat. In summary, the PLLA-PEG-PLLA/talcum composites have potential for use as flexible bioplastics with good dimensional stability to heat.

Modulation of the PLLA Morphology through Racemic Nucleation to Reach Functional Properties Required by 3D Printed Durable Applications

This paper presents an alternative for enhancing the durability of poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) by racemic nucleation following stereo-complexation with a selected poly (D-lactide) (PLDA). The compounds are obtained by melt blending of a PLLA grade, previously designed for 3D printing but with a low heat deflection temperature and impact resistance, with grades of PLDA differing in their molecular weight (Mw), D-lactide content (DS) and concentration. Our method considered how to reveal the racemic nucleation caused by stereo-complexation and its influence on functional properties. The FTIR study we performed showed that, depending on Mw, DS and concentration of the stereo-complexer (PDLA) used, bigger or smaller spectral changes can occur. The stereo-complexation was confirmed by the DSC analysis and, for the selected compound, by the POM, SEM, AFM microscopies, functional property and shapeability as 3D printing filaments. All the obtained results sustain the idea that, if a PLLA with Mw of 4.5 × 104 g·mol-1 is modified with PDLA with a medium Mw of 11.6 × 104 g·mol-1, medium DS of 4% and 1% concentration, a racemic nucleation is possible. It produces a racemic polylactic acid (PDLLA) with improved durability and good shapeability as 3D printing filaments. These results are explicable if the dependence of the intermolecular interactions appears between the PLLA and stereo-complexer PDLA. To enlarge the durable applicability of racemic polylactic acid (PDLLA), future research should identify other parameters controling the PLA stereo-complexing as the intensifying the mobility of the macromolecules, the finding of the optimal recemic cristalization window.

Improvement in Mechanical Properties and Heat Resistance of PLLA-b-PEG-b-PLLA by Melt Blending with PDLA-b-PEG-b-PDLA for Potential Use as High-Performance Bioplastics

Ecofriendly poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide) (PLLA-b-PEG-b-PLLA) are flexible bioplastics. In this work, the blending of poly(D-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D-lactide) (PDLA-b-PEG-b-PDLA) with various blend ratios for stereocomplex formation has been proved to be an effective method for improving the mechanical properties and heat resistance of PLLA-b-PEG-b-PLLA films. The PLLA-b-PEG-b-PLLA/PDLA-b-PEG-b-PLDA blend films were prepared by melt blending followed with compression molding. The stereocomplexation of PLLA and PDLA end-blocks were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The content of stereocomplex crystallites of blend films increased with the PDLA-b-PEG-b-PDLA ratio. From XRD, the blend films exhibited only stereocomplex crystallites. The stress and strain at break of blend films obtained from tensile tests were enhanced by melt blending with the PDLA-b-PEG-b-PDLA. The heat resistance of blend films determined from testing of dimensional stability to heat and dynamic mechanical analysis were improved with the PDLA-b-PEG-b-PDLA ratio. The sterecomplex PLLA-b-PEG-b-PLLA/PDL-b-PEG-b-PDLA films prepared by melt processing could be used as flexible and good heat-resistance packaging bioplastics.