Abstract
New plasticization ways based on low molecular plasticizers from citrates family were investigated to improve the ductility of poly(lactide) (PLA). Grafting reactions between anhydride-grafted PLA (MAG-PLA) copolymer with hydroxyl-functionalized citrate plasticizer, i.e. tributyl citrate (TbC), were so-carried out through reactive extrusion. Tributyl O-acetylcitrate (ATbC) was used as a non-functionalized reference. Both plasticizers drastically decreased the T g of PLA. However, the grafting reaction of TbC into MAG-PLA revealed a shift of PLA T g toward higher values. After 6 months of aging, no phase separation was observed. However, plasticizer leaching was noticed in the case of PLA/ATbC materials, leading to the shift of T g toward lower temperatures. In contrast, no major leaching phenomenon was noticed in PLA/TbC and PLA/MAG-PLA/TbC blends, indicating that the mobility restriction derived from the hydrogen bonding that can occur between PLA and TbC as well as the grafting reaction of TbC into MAG-PLA enabled to reduce leaching phenomena.
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