High-performance fully bio-based poly(lactic acid)/ polyamide11 (PLA/PA11) blends by reactive blending with multi-functionalized epoxy

Abstract

Abstract Bio-based polyamide11 (PA11) was incorporated to enhance and toughen poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Fully bio-based PLA/PA11 blends of high strength and toughness were prepared by reactive blending using reactive multifunctional epoxy compatibilizer. The mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical performance, and phase morphologies and compatibility of PLA/PA11 blends were investigated. Although “self-compatibilization” may exist in binary blends of PLA/PA11, the properties of PLA/PA11 binary blends were not improved due to the immiscibility and poor compatibility between the two polymers. The interfacial compatibility of PLA/PA11 blends was greatly enhanced by the reactive multifunctional epoxy compatibilizer. The fine average particle size and narrow distribution of PA11 dispersed phase could be obtained in the presence of compatibilizer. The compatibilized PLA/PA11 blend exhibited significantly improved tensile strength, elongation at break, and notch impact strength with values of 77.57 MPa, 454.41%, and 9.59 kJ/m2, respectively, compared with those of 58.26 MPa, 13.64%, and 2.97 kJ/m2 for neat PLA, respectively. The enhancement and toughening were attributed to excellent interfacial adhesion and the resultant morphologies with transition from typical sea-island morphology to strip form. Our work provides an effective method to greatly improve the mechanical properties with high strength and toughness, which is very important for the wide application of PLA polymeric materials.