Abstract
AbstractPolylactic acid (PLA) is an inherently brittle polymer, exhibiting a high Young's modulus and minimal elongation‐at‐break. To transition its failure mode to one that is much more ductile without loss in strength is challenging. A new strategy combining physical aging with ultraviolet (UV) radiation is carried out to reach the desired mechanical properties of PLA. Characterization of the modified resin is done by mechanical, rheological, and acoustic analysis. With the new processing strategy, the elongation‐at‐break of PLA increases from below 5% up to 18% by conditioning at −40 °C for 48 h followed by UV irradiation for 30 h. Correspondingly, results demonstrate that the yield strength and Young's modulus remain statistically unchanged. The interlocked entanglements inhibit the formation and evolution of subordered structures, which are attributed to the gained ductility. The high entanglement density and few subordered structures in the modified polymer system contribute to the unusual elongation‐at‐break without alteration of the modulus.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
