Viscoelastic, thermal and environmental characteristics of poly(lactic acid), linear low-density polyethylene and low-density polyethylene ternary blends and composites

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/(linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)–low-density polyethylene (LDPE)) PLA/(LLDPE-LDPE) ternary blends were prepared and characterized as function of the PLA content. (50/50) PLA/(LLDPE–LDPE) blend was also compatibilized using maleic anhydride grafted low-density polyethylene (PE-g-MA) incorporated with a concentration of 5 wt.%. PLA/(LLDPE–LDPE) blend composites have been prepared by dispersing 5 wt.% of an organophilic montmorillonite (Org-MMT), added according to two different mixing methods. These materials were subjected to several investigations such as X-rays diffraction (XRD), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), differential scanning calorimetry, and environmental tests. In the PLA glassy region, DMTA results showed that the storage modulus of PLA/(LLDPE–LDPE) blends decreases upon decreasing the PLA content. When PE-g-MA and Org-MMT were added, PLA exhibited a noticeable increase in the storage modulus across the glass transition region due the interface reinforcement and the enhancement of the blends stiffness. The decrease in the magnitude of the PLA tan δ peak was attributed to the decrease in the molecular mobility that could result from the increase in the interfacial resistance. XRD analysis showed that the method of dispersion of the nanoclay controls the final structural properties of the composites. (50/50) PLA/(LLDPE-LDPE) blend and composites revealed a satisfactory aptitude to biodegradation.