Abstract

Abstract The rheological properties of two commercially available biodegradable polyesters – poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and aliphatic-aromatic co-polyester Ecoflex™ – have been investigated. The rheological study was focused on measuring the viscosity and examining sharkskin, melt fracture, and extrudate swell phenomena, which are crucial in industrial applications. The experiments show that the two biodegradable polyesters exhibit shear-thinning behavior similar to other polymers and the Cox-Merz rule is obeyed. It was observed that with increasing shear rate PLA exhibits sharkskin and gross melt fracture while Ecoflex™ exhibits only gross melt fracture. Experimental results indicate that both biodegradable polyesters exhibit small extrudate swell, up to 28% for PLA and up to 34% for Ecoflex™.

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 call

Disclaimer: 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.