Abstract
We herein report the effect of modified polyketone (PK) on the microstructure, thermal stability, mechanical modulus, and impact strength of poly(lactic acid) (PLA). For this purpose, glycidyl methacrylate-grafted polyketone (PKGMA) was fabricated via in-situ melt-compounding and it was melt-mixed with pristine PLA to obtain PLA-dominant blends with 10–50 wt% PKGMA loadings. The electron microscopic images revealed that PLA/PKGMA blends showed a well-compatibilized microstructure with submicron-sized PKGMA domains in the continuous PLA matrix phase, unlike an immiscible PLA/PK blend. The infrared spectroscopic and melt-rheological analyses confirmed the specific intermolecular interactions and chemical reactions between PLA and PKGMA components in the blends. The differential scanning calorimetric data and X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the PKGMA component serves as a nucleating agent for the crystallization of PLA in the blends. The thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the thermal decomposition temperatures and residues of PLA/PKGMA blends were noticeably improved, compared to pristine PLA and an immiscible PLA/PK blend. The dynamic mechanical analysis exhibited that the elastic storage moduli of PLA/PKGMA blends were higher than that of pristine PLA. Furthermore, the Izod impact strength of PLA blends increased with the PKGMA loading. The PLA blend with 50 wt% PKGMA was found to have a maximum impact strength of ∼286.4 J/m, which was ∼94% higher than that (∼147.5 J/m) of pristine PLA. • GMA-grafted polyketone (PKGMA) is fabricated by a facile in-situ melt-mixing. • PLA/PKGMA blends exhibit a highly compatibilized morphological feature. • PLA-g-PKGMA is formed during melt-compounding of PLA/PKGMA blends. • There exist specific interactions between PLA and PKGMA in the blends. • PLA/PKGMA blends have enhanced thermal stability, elastic modulus, and impact strength.
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