Co-continuous Phase Research Articles

Tuning Biodegradation of Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) at Mild Temperature by Blending with Poly (butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) or Polycaprolactone (PCL).

Biobased plastics are fully or partially made from biological resources but are not necessarily biodegradable or compostable. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA), one of the most diffused bioplastics, is compostable in industrial environments, but improving degradation in home composting conditions, in soil and in seawater could be beneficial for improving its end of life and general degradability. Blends obtained by the extrusion of PLA with different amounts of poly (butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) or poly (caprolactone) (PCL) were characterized in terms of their home composting, soil, marine and freshwater biodegradation. The blending strategy was found to be successful in improving the home compostability and soil compostability of PLA. Thanks to the correlations with morphological characterization as determined by electron microscopy, it was possible to show that attaining an almost co-continuous phase distribution, depending on the composition and melt viscosity of the blend components, can enhance PLA degradation in home composting conditions. Tests in marine and freshwater were also performed, and the obtained results showed that in marine conditions, pure PLA is degradable. A comparison of different tests evidenced that salt dissolved in marine water plays an important role in favoring PLA's degradability.

Enhanced Impact Resistance, Oxygen Barrier, and Thermal Dimensional Stability of Biaxially Processed Miscible Poly(Lactic Acid)/Poly(Butylene Succinate) Thin Films.

This study investigates the crystallization, microstructure, and performance of poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene succinate) (PLA/PBS) thin films processed through blown film extrusion and biaxial orientation (BO) at various blend ratios. Succinic anhydride (SA) was used to enhance interfacial adhesion in PLA-rich blends, while blends near 50/50 formed co-continuous phases without SA. Biaxial stretching and annealing, adjusted according to the crystallization behavior of PLA and PBS, significantly influenced crystallinity, crystallite size, and molecular orientation. Biaxial stretching induced crystallization and ordered chain alignment, particularly at the cold crystallization temperature (Tcc), leading to a 70-80-fold increase in impact resistance compared to blown films. Annealing further enhanced crystallinity, especially at the Tcc of PLA, resulting in larger crystallite sizes. BO films demonstrated reduced thermal shrinkage due to improved PLA crystalline structure, whereas PLA-rich blown films showed higher shrinkage due to PLA's lower thermal resistance. The SA-miscibilized phase reduced oxygen transmission in blown films, while BO films exhibited higher permeability due to anisotropic crystal orientation. However, the annealing of BO films, especially at high temperature (Tcc of PLA), further lowered oxygen permeability by promoting the crystallization of both PLA and PBS phases. Overall, the combination of SA compatibilization, biaxial stretching, and annealing resulted in substantial improvements in mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and oxygen barrier properties, highlighting the potential of these films for packaging applications.

Phenyl, propyl polysiloxane modified epoxy resin II: The co-continuous phase, concurrently strengthening and toughening mechanism

The applications of epoxy resins are restricted in certain areas due to their brittleness, while improving the epoxy toughness always compromises their strength. We reported a phenyl, propyl polysiloxane modified epoxy resins with excellent tensile strength and toughness before. In this study, the mechanism of strengthening and toughening are studied and elaborated. Compared to cured EP resin (EP), cured P/E resin (P/E20) significantly improved the tensile strength, elongation at break, impact strength, and critical strain energy release rate (GIc) by 45 %, 248 %, 18 %, and 512 %, respectively. Fracture analysis of the P/E20 revealed the appearance of parabolic markings, typical and convincing evidence of ductile fracture, indicating good toughness of the resin. AFM height and Young's modulus plots reveal the complex details of the dimples and the co-continuous phases, which provide the strong evidence to explain the reinforcement and toughening mechanism.

Phenyl propyl polysiloxane modified epoxy resin I: The content, phase structures and macroproperties

Polysiloxanes are known to significantly enhance the toughness and thermal stability of epoxy resins. However, the study of phase transitions and their effects on the properties of modified resins, synthesized through copolymerization or blending, was quite limited. In this work, a phenyl propyl polysiloxane (PPPS) modified epoxy resin (P/E) was prepared using a solvent method to scrutinize the influence of varying PPPS concentrations and phase transitions on the macroscopic properties of the resin. The molecular structure of P/E composite was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 29Si NMR) analysis. Based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) results, the progression of phase transitions was deduced: from a homogeneous phase to a co-continuous phase, and subsequently to a sea-island phase. This progression of phase transitions is attributed to the varying solubility of the copolymer with different PPPS content in the resin. At a PPPS content of 20 wt%, a significant improvement in tensile strength (σ) and critical strain energy release rate (GIc) was observed, increasing by 45 % and 400 %, respectively, upon the formation of a co-continuous phase. The presence of a silicone-rich spherical domain within sea-island phase can significantly improve the GIc of the resins, while this also results in a rapid reduction in tensile strength (σ). Furthermore, the thermal stability of P/E composite is also affected by its phase structures. The silicone-rich spherical domains are more effective in forming a protective layer compared to the co-continuous phase, which leads to a decreased pyrolysis rate and an increased yield of residual char. This work elucidates the influence of PPPS content and phase structure on the macroscopic properties, highlighting the significant potential for developing composite materials with superior comprehensive performance.

Microphase separation regulation of polyurethane modified phenolic resin aerogel to enhance mechanical properties and thermal insulation

Applications of aerogels are commonly restricted by their complicated preparation route, high energy cost, brittleness and poor mechanical properties. Herein, a facile synthesis route for mechanical robust polyurethane (PU) modified phenolic resin (PF) aerogel was developed. The aerogel was prepared via polymerization of PU and phenolic resin (PF) followed by direct ambient pressure drying, sub-10 nm scale co-continuous phase structure was realized via control of kinetics of sol–gel reaction. The regulation of phase structure significantly enhanced mechanical properties of aerogels, which showed compressive strength and modulus of 29 MPa and 112 MPa, respectively, at 60 % strain without notable collapse. Furthermore, these aerogels showed excellent thermal insulation properties at both room temperature and high temperature. They exhibited superior dynamic ablative thermal protection at 1200℃ in oxygen-acetylene ablation test. This facile, inexpensive, environment-friendly methodology for aerogel preparation expands the application scope of aerogels in the field of thermal insulation under harsh environments.

Bioinspired Nanolayered Structure Tuned by Extensional Stress: A Scalable Way to High-Performance Biodegradable Polyesters.

The nacre-inspired multi-nanolayer structure offers a unique combination of advanced mechanical properties, such as strength and crack tolerance, making them highly versatile for various applications. Nevertheless, a significant challenge lies in the current fabrication methods, which is difficult to create a scalable manufacturing process with precise control of hierarchical structure. In this work, a novel strategy is presented to regulate nacre-like multi-nanolayer films with the balance mechanical properties of stiffness and toughness. By utilizing a co-continuous phase structure and an extensional stress field, the hierarchical nanolayers is successfully constructed with tunable sizes using a scalable processing technique. This strategic modification allows the robust phase to function as nacre-like platelets, while the soft phase acts as a ductile connection layer, resulting in exceptional comprehensive properties. The nanolayer-structured films demonstrate excellent isotropic properties, including a tensile strength of 113.5MPa in the machine direction and 106.3MPa in a transverse direction. More interestingly, these films unprecedentedly exhibit a remarkable puncture resistance at the same time, up to 324.8Nmm-1, surpassing the performance of other biodegradable films. The scalable fabrication strategy holds significant promise in designing advanced bioinspired materials for diverse applications.

Healing Process Affected by Morphology of PCL/Epoxy Blends

In this study, a blend of epoxy and polycaprolactone (PCL) was prepared to investigate its ‎properties. Different weight percentages of thermoplastic PCL (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 wt%) were ‎combined with epoxy coatings. The final morphology revealed PCL scattered as spherical ‎particles within the epoxy phase, which was functioning as a continuous matrix. The coating ‎showed toughness and rigidity when it had fully cured. The PCL phase had a special behavior ‎when heated, called "bleeding," in which it filled any open surfaces of its own volition. By ‎using molten PCL to fill in cracks, this property can be used for self-healing applications. The ‎self-healing efficacy of blends with different PCL contents was assessed. The self-healing ‎efficacy of the various mixes was determined by dividing the width of the self-healed crack by ‎the width of the original crack. The results showed that the highest thermal-mending efficiencies, ‎reaching 100%, were achieved with a PCL/epoxy blend containing co-continuous phases, ‎specifically at a 1 wt.% PCL content. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis indicated that ‎there was physical interaction between the epoxy and PCL phases, but no chemical bonding ‎occurred between them.‎

Morphology evaluation and mechanical properties of oil-resistant thermoplastic vulcanizates comprising carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber and thermoplastic polyurethane and their comparison with commercial grades

The morphology, the mechanical properties, and the oil-resistance of thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) of carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were studied & compared with the commercial ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)/polypropylene (PP) TPVs from two suppliers. The rubber phase in these new generations of TPVs was cured with an addition-type curative, and no oil & compatibilizer were required to make these TPVs processable. Three XNBR/TPU TPVs were made with different rubber/plastic ratios (15/85, 30/70, and 45/55). The AFM analysis showed that the morphology shifted from a continuous plastic phase to a co-continuous phase with increased rubber content. The rubber domains in these TPVs were not as discrete as reported in the literature for the EPDM/PP TPVs. Still, because of using an addition-type curative, unlike peroxide and resole phenolic resin curatives for the latter, the former TPVs had a significantly better balance of rubber and plastic properties. The oil resistance of these TPVs was 3.5–5 times better than the commercial EPDM/PP TPVs. These promising results show advancement in the TPV world and make these TPVs appealing for hydraulic oil applications.

Fabricating biomimetic porous PEEK scaffolds for bone implants

Poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) is a high strength polymer with strong potential for medical use, especially for bone implants. In this research, a novel method of making biomimetic porous PEEK scaffolds is developed. PEEK and polyethersulfone (PES) are blended at a proper ratio to generate a co-continuous phase structure. With solid-state foaming, PES is efficiently removed by leaching to yield interconnected porous PEEK scaffolds. The pore size and pore gradient of the PEEK scaffolds can be easily controlled by controlling the annealing time and temperature of the PEEK/PES blend. This study presents the conditions of the proposed fabrication process and compares the fabricated porous PEEK scaffolds with those fabricated using other methods. It is shown that the structural morphology and mechanical properties of the fabricated porous PEEK is generally comparable to those of trabecular bones, suggesting these scaffolds could be excellent candidates for bone implant applications.

Improving the compatibility and toughness of sustainable polylactide/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blends by incorporation of peroxide and diacrylate

Polylactide/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) blends were compatibilized using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and poly(ethylene glycol) 600 diacrylate (PEG600DA) through a one-step melt-blending process. The compatibility and performance of these blends were subsequently characterized. The results showed that grafts formed “in situ” effectively improved the compatibility and interfacial adhesion between PLA and PBAT phases. Melt viscosity and elasticity of both the PLA/PBAT/DCP and PLA/PBAT/DCP/PEG600DA blends evinced significant increases. Compared to PLA alone, both cold and melt crystallization abilities of the PLA/PBAT/DCP/PEG600DA blends were enhanced, with crystallinities increasing by 5 % - 10 %. Furthermore, the thermal stability, as well as hydrophobicity and oleophobicity of the compatibilized blends improved. In comparison with PLA, the elongation at break and notched impact strength for the PLA/PBAT/DCP/PEG600DA (60/40/0.1/4) blend achieved increases of 290 % and 44.23 kJ/m2, corresponding to improvements of 279 % and 1457 %, respectively. The toughening effect was substantially influenced by the ductile matrix (either a co-continuous phase or a flexible PBAT matrix) in addition to the strong interfacial adhesion and fine phase domain. These eco-friendly blends exhibit considerable potential for packaging articles and 3D printing products owing to their excellent mechanical properties and enhanced melt rheology.

Improving flame retardant and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε-caprolactone) composites using catalytic imidazolium modified CNTs and ammonium polyphosphate

The flame retardants and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance were enhanced by using imidazolium-functionalized polyurethane (IPU) modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) for polylactic acid (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) composites. The PLA/PCL/10APP/8CNT/1.6IPU composite containing 10 wt% APP and 8 wt% imidazolium modified CNTs reached the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 30.3 % and passed the V-0 rating in UL-94 tests. Moreover, the peak of the heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR) for this composite reached around 302 kW/m2 and 64 KJ/m2, which were decreased by 39.1 % and 15.8 % compared with that of PLA/PCL/10APP composite. The improved flame retardancy was attributed to the interplay of catalytic, barrier, and condensed char forming of imidazolium-modified CNTs and APP. IPU catalyzed the charring effect of the polymer matrix during combustion and regulated the migration of more CNTs to disperse at the two-phase interface. The dispersion of imidazolium-modified CNTs and co-continuous phase structure of the composites can establish continuous conductive pathways. The PLA/PCL/APP/CNT/IPU composite obtained a higher conductivity compared to the PLA/PCL/APP/CNT composite and whose EMI SE reached 33.9 dB, which is a promising candidate for next-generation sustainable and protective plastics.

The structural effect of SiC form ceramic on the compressive strength and thermal expansion properties of Cu–SiC composites

With the development of transportation vehicles towards to the direction of heavy load and high speed, the requirement of Cu matrix brake materials was proposed for improving performance in both mechanical and thermal properties. The Cu-SiCf composites is a new kind of friction brake material. To investigate the structural effect of 3D network structured SiC form ceramic on the compressive strength and thermal expansion properties of Cu-SiCf composites, SiCf was synthesized using a template method in conjunction with reaction sintering, while Cu-SiCf composites were prepared using squeeze casting, and exhibiting a co-continuous phase structure. The results reveal that SiC form ceramic reinforcement and constraint mechanisms enhance the overall strength of the Cu alloy through the 3D network structure. SiC form ceramic plays a role in load transfer and overall strengthening of the Cu alloy. With the synergistic effects of these mechanisms, increasing the SiC form ceramic volume fraction improves the compressive strength and reduces the coefficient of thermal expansion of the Cu-SiCf composites.

Preparation and tribological properties of different kinds of metal foam-polytetrafluoroethylene co-continuous phase composites

Co-continuous phase composites of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) interpenetrated with five kinds of open-cell metal foams, Cu, Ni, Fe, CuNi and FeNi, were prepared via emulsion impregnation, vacuum impregnation and free sintering. The microstructure, mechanical performance, thermal stability and tribological behavior characteristics of these materials were investigated. The results showed that the filling efficiency of PTFE was between 76.1% and 98.7%. The developed composites generally exhibited enhanced strength and thermal stability. In particular, their wear rate under dry friction conditions was reduced by 63–95% compared with pure PTFE resin, which was ascribed to the effective transfer of friction heat and the enhanced load bearing capacity. However, their tribological performance weakened in a simulated seawater environment because of the diffusion of seawater in the materials and corrosion of the metal skeletons.

Percolation-induced gel-gel phase separation in a dilute polymer network.

Cosmic large-scale structures, animal flocks and living tissues can be considered non-equilibrium organized systems created by dissipative processes. Replicating such properties in artificial systems is still difficult. Herein we report a dissipative network formation process in a dilute polymer-water mixture that leads to percolation-induced gel-gel phase separation. The dilute system, which forms a monophase structure at the percolation threshold, spontaneously separates into two co-continuous gel phases with a submillimetre scale (a dilute-percolated gel) during the deswelling process after the completion of the gelation reaction. The dilute-percolated gel, which contains 99% water, exhibits unexpected hydrophobicity and induces the development of adipose-like tissues in subcutaneous tissues. These findings support the development of dissipative structures with advanced functionalities for distinct applications, ranging from physical chemistry to tissue engineering.

Cocontinuous Nanostructures by Microphase Separation of Statistically Cross-Linked Polystyrene/Poly(2-vinylpyridine) Networks.

Cocontinuous polymeric nanostructures have drawn considerable attention due to their ability to combine distinct, percolation-dependent properties of two different polymer domains. Randomly end-linked copolymer networks (RECNs) have previously been shown to support the formation of disordered cocontinuous nanostructures across wide composition windows in a robust way. However, achieving highly efficient linking of telechelic polymers with excellent end-group fidelity often requires complex synthetic routes. As an alternative, we study here statistically cross-linked copolymer networks (SCCNs) composed of polystyrene and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS and P2VP) with cross-linkable allyl pendent groups that are conveniently synthesized by controlled radical copolymerization. Via selective extraction of P2VP, coupled with gravimetry, small-angle X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy, we find disordered cocontinuous phases across wide composition ranges (up to ≈ 35 wt %), approaching values previously determined for RECNs. Remarkably, even for samples that appear to exhibit full percolation, a substantial fraction of P2VP (≈ 20-30 wt %) cannot be removed, which we ascribe to short strands between nearby cross-linkers that are physically embedded within PS domains. The resulting PS porous monoliths with residual surface P2VP layers enable facile surface modification to resist protein adsorption and templating of porous gold nanostructures.

Improvement in Phase Compatibility and Mechanical Properties of Poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide)/thermoplastic Starch Blends with Citric Acid.

Flexible poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide) block copolymer (PLLA-PEG-PLLA) bioplastic has been blended with low-cost thermoplastic starch (TPS) to prepare fully biodegradable bioplastics. However, the mechanical properties of PLLA-PEG-PLLA matrix decrease after the addition of TPS. In this work, citric acid (CA) was used as a compatibilizer to improve the phase compatibility and mechanical properties of PLLA-PEG-PLLA/TPS blends. TPS was first modified with CA (1.5 %wt, 3 %wt, and 4.5%wt) before melt blending with PLLA-PEG-PLLA. The PLLA-PEG-PLLA/modified TPS ratio was constant at 60/40 by weight. CA modification of TPS suppressed the crystallinity and enhanced the thermal stability of the PLLA-PEG-PLLA matrix, as determined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The compatibility between the dispersed TPS and PLLA-PEG-PLLA phases was improved through modification of TPS with CA, as revealed by the smaller size of the co-continuous TPS phase from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Increasing the hydrophilicity of the blends containing modified TPS confirmed the improvement in phase compatibility of the components. From the tensile test, the ultimate tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus of the blends increased with the CA content. In conclusion, CA showed a promising behavior in improving the phase compatibility and mechanical properties of PLLA-PEG-PLLA/TPS blends. These PLLA-PEG-PLLA/modified TPS blends have potential to be used as flexible bioplastic products.

Facile Fabrication of Absorption-Dominated Biodegradable Poly(lactic acid)/Polycaprolactone/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Foams towards Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

The use of electromagnetic interference shielding materials in the mitigation of electromagnetic pollution requires a broader perspective, encompassing not only the enhancement of the overall shielding efficiency (SET), but also the distinct emphasis on the contribution of the absorption shielding efficiency within the total shielding efficiency (SEA/SET). The development of lightweight, biodegradable electromagnetic interference shielding materials with dominant absorption mechanisms is of paramount importance in reducing electromagnetic pollution and the environmental impact. This study presents a successful fabrication strategy for a poly(lactic acid)/polycaprolactone/multi-walled carbon nanotube (PCL/PLA/MWCNT) composite foam, featuring a uniform porous structure. In this approach, melt mixing is combined with particle leaching techniques to create a co-continuous phase morphology when PCL and PLA are present in equal mass ratios. The MWCNT is selectively dispersed within the PCL matrix, which facilitates the formation of a robust conductive network within this morphology. In addition, the addition of the MWCNT content reduces the size of the phase domain in the PCL/PLA/MWCNT composite, showing an adept ability to construct a compact and stable conductive network. Based on its porous architecture and continuous conductive network, the composite foam with an 80% porosity and 7 wt% MWCNT content manifests an exceptional EMI shielding performance. The SET, specific SET, and SEA/SET values achieved are 22.88 dB, 88.68 dB·cm3/g, and 85.80%, respectively. Additionally, the resulting composite foams exhibit a certain resistance to compression-induced deformations. In summary, this study introduces a practical solution that facilitates the production of absorption-dominated, lightweight, and biodegradable EMI shielding materials at scale.

A novel structural design of cellulose-based conductive composite fibers for wearable e-textiles

Cellulose-based conductive composite fibers hold great promise in smart wearable applications, given cellulose's desirable properties for textiles. Blending conductive fillers with cellulose is the most common means of fiber production. Incorporating a high content of conductive fillers is demanded to achieve desirable conductivity. However, a high filler load deteriorates the processability and mechanical properties of the fibers. Here, developing wet-spun cellulose-based fibers with a unique side-by-side (SBS) structure via sustainable processing is reported. Sustainable sources (cotton linter and post-consumer cotton waste) and a biocompatible intrinsically conductive polymer (i.e., polyaniline, PANI) were engineered into fibers containing two co-continuous phases arranged side-by-side. One phase was neat cellulose serving as the substrate and providing good mechanical properties; another phase was a PANI-rich cellulose blend (50 wt%) affording electrical conductivity. Additionally, an eco-friendly LiOH/urea solvent system was adopted for the fiber spinning process. With the proper control of processing parameters, the SBS fibers demonstrated high conductivity and improved mechanical properties compared to single-phase cellulose and PANI blended fibers. The SBS fibers demonstrated great potential for wearable e-textile applications.

Poly(dimethyl-diphenyl-imide)siloxane/phenolic-based double network hybrid resin coatings for ablation thermal protection

Organic-inorganic hybridization is an important way to improve ablation resistance of phenolic resin coatings (PR). However, long molecular chain silicone by copolymerization is less compatible with PR and hybrid resin will form sea-island phase, which is not favorable for further improvement of ablation resistance. Therefore, how to achieve a combination of long chain and compatibility is a major challenge. In this work, the poly(dimethyl-diphenyl-imide)siloxane (PMPI) containing imide and phenyl was synthesized by anionic ring-opening polymerization and copolymerization. Then, it was hybridized with PR to obtain PMPI/PR-based double network hybrid resin coatings with nano co-continuous phase. The oxyacetylene ablation test suggests that the resin coatings with medium phenyl content has the lowest linear ablation rate (0.055 mm/s), which is 74 % lower compared to PR (0.21 mm/s). In addition, the mechanism by which PMPI enhances ablation resistance is discussed. This work provides a promising approach to develop higher performance ablative-resistant resin coatings.

Fabricating super tough polylactic acid based composites by interfacial compatibilization of imidazolium polyurethane modified carbon nanotubes

The interfacial compatibilization and dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in incompatible poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene terephthalate adipate) (PLA/PBAT) composites are key points for evaluating the performance of the composites. To address this, a novel compatibilizer, sulfonate imidazolium polyurethane (IPU) containing PLA and poly(1,4-butylene adipate) segments modified CNTs, employed in conjunction with multi-component epoxy chain extender (ADR) to toughen synergistically PLA/PBAT composites. The thermal stability, rheological behavior, morphology, and mechanical properties of PLA/PBAT composites were performed by TGA, DSC, dynamic rheometer, SEM, tensile, and notched Izod impact measure. Moreover, the elongation at break and notched Izod impact strength of PLA5/PBAT5/4C/0.4I composites achieved 341 % and 61.8 kJ/m2 respectively, whose tensile strength was 33.7 MPa. The interfacial compatibilization and adhesion were enhanced because of the interface reaction catalyzed by IPU and the refined co-continuous phase structure. The CNTs non-covalently modified by IPU that bridged at the PBAT phase and interface transferred the stress into the matrix, prevented the development of microcracks, and absorbed impact fracture energy in the form of pull-out of the matrix, inducing shear yielding and plastic deformation. This new type of compatibilizer with modified CNTs is of great significance for realizing the high performance of PLA/PBAT composites.