Dynamic Vulcanization Research Articles

Preparation of skim natural rubber and polypropylene blends via melt blending: A study on physico-mechanical properties

High percentage of non-rubbers in Skim Natural Rubber (SNR) has restricted its use in manufacture of advanced rubber products. SNR were melt blended with polypropylene (PP) at different blend ratios to generate thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). Standard Lanka Rubber (SLR) and PP blends were also prepared for the purpose of comparison. Tensile, hysteresis, hardness, water absorption, and dynamic mechanical properties of unvulcanized (UV) and dynamically vulcanized (DV) SNR/PP and SLR/PP blends were compared. Stress-strain behavior and TPE characteristics of both blends were similar. Tensile strength and modulus of SNR/PP blends decreased with the increase of SNR percentage. Elongation at break showed a decrease in UV blends and maxima at 50:50 blend ratio for DV blends. Dynamic vulcanization of the rubber phase improved tensile properties and hardness of the blends. Water absorption studies showed significantly higher equilibrium moisture content in SNR/PP blends, while difference in this property diminished with the increase of rubber phase. Water absorption and equilibrium moisture content decreased with dynamic vulcanization of rubber phase. Dynamic mechanical analysis confirmed multi-phase microstructure of the blends. Both blend systems showed similar dynamic mechanical properties and almost comparable thermo-mechanical properties confirming the potential of SNR as an alternative to SLR for selected applications.

Effects of the surface chemical groups of cellulose nanocrystals on the vulcanization and mechanical properties of natural rubber/cellulose nanocrystals nanocomposites

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), as the promising reinforcing fillers in the rubber industry, their surface chemical groups have vital effects on the vulcanization kinetics, cross-linking densities, and mechanical properties of rubber composites. Herein, CNCs with acidic carboxyl (CCA) and alkaline amino groups (CCP) were produced by modifying the sulfonic CNCs (CCS) in environment-friendly ways. Studies found the CCS and CCA with acid groups have obvious inhibiting effects on the vulcanization of natural rubber (NR), while CCP with alkaline amino groups accelerates the vulcanization of NR. Differential scanning calorimeter, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Electron paramagnetic resonance, etc. were performed to clarify the effecting mechanisms of CNCs surface groups on NR vulcanization. It was found that NR/CCS and NR/CCA nanocomposites vulcanize through radical reactions, and the surface acidic groups of CCS and CCA, i.e., hydroxyl, sulfonate, and carboxyl groups inactivate the sulfur radicals generated during vulcanization and depress the vulcanization activity. The amino groups of the polyethyleneimine of CCP promote the ring opening of sulfur (S8) or the breaking of polysulfide bonds connected to NR molecular chains to form sulfur anion with a strong nucleophilic ability, which leads to the cross-linking of NR/CCP reacts via ionic reaction mainly. The vulcanization rate and cross-linking density of NR/CCP are improved by the ionic reaction. And benefiting from the higher cross-linking density and the reinforcement of CCP, NR/CCP had the best physical and mechanical properties. Our work elucidates the mechanism of the surface chemical groups of CNCs affecting NR vulcanization and may provide ideas for the preparation of high-performance rubber composites reinforced by CNCs.

Scratch behavior of fully sustainable polylactide/modified natural Eucommia ulmoides gum thermoplastic vulcanizates

AbstractTo make full use of the renewability of polylactide (PLA) and natural Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG), novel fully sustainable thermal plastic vulcanizates (TPVs) with high toughness were developed via dynamic vulcanization technique based on modified EUG (referred to as EUG‐GMA). The latter greatly improved the toughness of PLA and the mechanism was discussed with respect to micro structure analysis. Aiming at providing theoretical guidance for PLA/EUG‐GMA TPVs in scratch related applications, the scratch behavior of TPVs with different EUG‐GMA content was studied in single‐pass and multiple‐pass scratching mode, after which the tribological mechanisms were discussed based on worn surface morphology and contact area analysis. It is revealed that the promoted interfacial adhesion due to in‐situ compatibilization and the co‐continuous phase structure of PLA/EUG‐GMA TPVs played crucial roles in enhancing the TPVs' toughness. In addition to tribo‐conditions, the above mentioned interfacial performance was also responsible for the variation of scratch behavior of different TPVs. It is expected that the present study would open up a new route of manufacturing sustainable composites combined with scratch resistance and toughness.

Design of biodegradable PLA/PBAT blends with balanced toughness and strength via interfacial compatibilization and dynamic vulcanization

In this work, we report that super-toughened and high-strength polylactide/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) blends can be successfully prepared by interfacial compatibilization and dynamic vulcanization during reactive melt-blending with small amounts (0.5–3 wt %) of epoxy-functional styrene-acrylic oligomers (ESA). The results show that the compatibilization is realized with the grafting of some PLA and PBAT chains onto ESA backbones to in-situ generate PLA-graft-PBAT copolymers at the blend interface. Meanwhile, the ESA-mediated vulcanization gives rise to the highly cross-linked PBAT particles with a unique network-like distribution in the PLA matrix. Both the strengthened interfaces and networked PBAT particles are favorable to the triggering of massive matrix plastic deformation required for effective energy dissipation and thus the toughening effect is substantially enhanced. Impressively, the notched Izod impact toughness and elongation at break of the PLA/PBAT (70/30) blends can reach as high as 62.4 kJ/m2 and 232%, while the tensile strength increases from 44.2 MPa to 51.5 MPa, indicating a balanced toughness and strength. Most notably, it is demonstrated that tuning the molecular structure of ESA (i.e., epoxy group density and backbone length) is essential to improving the interfacial adhesion and phase morphology, enabling high toughening efficiency. Our facile yet robust strategy presents an unprecedented opportunity for the development of high-performance fully biodegradable PLA blends.

Thermoplastic vulcanizates with an integration of good mechanical performance and excellent resistance to high temperature and oil based on HNBR/TPEE

AbstractThermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), with a combination of excellent resilience of conventional elastomer and re‐processibility of thermoplastic, have been widely explored both in academia and industry in recent years. Herein, a new type of thermoplastic vulcanizates with good mechanical performance, excellent resistance to high temperature and oil has been successfully developed based on hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) and thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE) by the masterbatch procedure of dynamic vulcanization. The effect of composition ratio of rubber phase/plastic phase (R/P ratio) on the mechanical properties, rheological properties, micromorphology, thermal stability, high temperature‐ and oil‐ resistance of HNBR/TPEE TPV was systematically investigated. The results show that all HNBR/TPEE TPVs exhibit good tensile strength, low hardness, superior stretchability (≥880% elongation at break) and high elasticity (only 13% residual strain when stretched at 50% strain). Interestingly, with the increase in R/P ratio, the hardness of TPVs is decreased linearly and the elasticity increases. Besides, by combining the morphology study and rubber processing analyzer suggest that size of the dispersed rubber phase domains increases significantly as R/P ratio increases, which strengthen the rubber network, creating a better elasticity but reduces the rheological properties of TPVs. In addition, the thermogravimetric analysis shows that the thermal stability of TPV improved with the increase of R/P ratio. HNBR/TPEE TPV shows excellent high temperature‐ and oil‐ resistance after aging which is expected to be used in automotive applications.

Synergistic effects of silicon based material with intumescent flame retardant in thermoplastic polyurethane: Pre‐polymerization and dynamic vulcanization based facile approach

AbstractA flame retardant thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was prepared using the silicon based (Si)‐intumescent (IFR) synergistic flame‐retardant system, which combined the advantages of additive and reactive types. Silicone rubber was introduced into the matrix of hydroxybutanyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) block TPU via dynamic vulcanization, which enabled the combination of silicon based material and TPU. Then, the IFR system was used to supplement the defects of single Si based flame retardancy, which realized the synergistic flame retardancy of Si‐IFR. Under the Si‐IFR system, when IFR uses 15%, the TPU reached the V‐0 flame retardant level and the limiting oxygen index was 29.6. Moreover, the toughness of the Si‐IFR flame‐retardant TPU was better than PDMS block TPU. The silicon based material improved the matrix and cooperated with IFR to form a composite carbon layer, which protected the inner material, enhanced the strength of the carbon layer and eliminated dropping.

Vulcanization kinetics of natural rubber and strain softening behaviors of gum vulcanizates tailored by deep eutectic solvents

Rubber processing industries call for ecofriendly, green activators for reducing zinc oxide (ZnO) activator usages and volatile organic compounds emissions. Herein low cost deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are used for regulating vulcanization kinetics of natural rubber (NR) gums and for tailoring mechanical behaviors of the gum vulcanizates. A highly active DES based on choline chloride/thiourea (1/3) pair (CCT) is identified. Its combination with ZnO at lowered amounts allows preparation of high-strength vulcanizates at lowered vulcanization temperature. The 120 °C-cured vulcanizate containing 1 phr (parts per hundred parts of rubber) ZnO and 0.2 phr CCT demonstrates crosslinking density 105 mol/m3 and tensile strength 21 MPa, being higher than those (94 mol/m3 and 16 MPa) of the 140 °C-cured vulcanizate containing 2 phr ZnO activator. Normalization of deformational stress with respect to theoretical elastic modulus of ideal rubbery network reveals that stress (deformation energy) and softening at low strains are closely related to crosslinking density and strain-induced crystallization behavior. Crosslinking density could be independently regulated by introduction of DESs and by variation of vulcanization temperature, paving the way for tailoring elasticity and dissipation of vulcanizates manufactured in an energy-saving efficient vulcanization approach.

Evaluation of specific total work of fracture in polypropylene/ethylene‐propylene diene monomer nanocomposites based on various graphene derivatives: Optimization by response surface methodology technique and correlation with microstructure properties

AbstractThis study presents an experimental design approach for optimization and prediction of specific total work of fracture (wf) in polypropylene/ethylene‐propylene diene monomer (EPDM) nanocomposites based on disparate graphene derivatives including multilayer graphene, few‐layer graphene and graphene oxide. Box–Behnken design and response surface methodology (RSM) were exploited at three levels and four factors to construct a predictive mathematical model for the value of wf. The model predicted that the maximum value of wf (136.7 J/mm2) is achieved by applying dynamically vulcanized system at EPDM content and few‐layer graphene content of 20 wt% and of 0.5 wt%, respectively. In addition, by observing the fracture surfaces of specimens, a direct correlation between RSM predictions and morphology of nanocomposites was established. In this regard, transmission electron microscopy and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analyses showed that by using few‐layer graphene, thanks to formation of an exfoliated structure, more energy for the failure of nanocomposites is required which substantiates the model predictions. Scanning electron microscopy observations depicted that the droplets diameter of homogeneous EPDM particle size plays a pivotal role in number of micro‐voids and nano‐voids, which consequently promotes the creation of fibril structure and eventually heightens nanocomposite resistance against the applied load. The optimum status of this phenomenon happens at 20 wt% of EPDM and as the model showed, the value of wf reaches the highest point at this EPDM content. Likewise, by applying dynamic vulcanization, as truly predicted by the model, the formation of multi fibrillar structure led to dissipation of extra energy in nanocomposites inducing a remarkable improvement in the value of wf.

Preparation of FKM/EFEP thermoplastic vulcanizate with excellent heat and oil resistance, gas barrier property and recyclability

Because of the fuel diversification, the harsher use environment and the requirements of environmental protection, the automotive fuel pipeline system requires not only good mechanical properties and high elasticity but also high temperature and oil resistance, high gas barrier property, easy processibility, and recyclability. Nevertheless, the traditional materials cannot simultaneously meet the requirements of these properties. In this study, fluororubber (FKM)/fluoro-thermoplastic (EFEP) TPV (FTPV) with fine dispersion of FKM rubber phase in EFEP matrix was successfully produced through the design and optimization of crosslinking systems of FKM and the processing technology. The as prepared FTPV not only shows good mechanical properties, elasticity, rheological property and recyclability, but also excellent oil resistance and gas barrier properties, outperforms the other TPVs. The mechanism on morphological development of the FKM/EFEP TPV are revealed. Interestingly, a large number of single rubber sub-micron particles (RPs) are formed in the blend during the dynamic vulcanization, which is mainly attributed to an improvement in compatibility and an increase in crosslinking degree of FKM. The combined effect of shearing stress and the improvement of compatibility results in a decrease in the size of rubber sub-micron particles agglomerates and an increase in the content of single rubber sub-micron particles.

Vulcanization kinetics of acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber reinforced with graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide in the absence of co‐cure accelerator

AbstractThe market demand for elastomeric‐graphene/derivatives nanosheets (GDS) materials is high nowadays, due to their excellent physico‐mechanical properties over traditional composites. However, the curing behavior of elastomeric‐GDS which influences the overall properties and also determines the cost of related products has not been well investigated. Previously, the curing properties of NBR‐graphene oxide (GO) and NBR‐reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was studied and the curatives (accelerator and activators) were suspected to have influence on their curing behavior. This study explores the curing behavior of NBR‐GO and NBR‐rGO in the absence of tetramethylthiuram disulfide (TMTD) accelerator. The virgin NBR exhibited shorter curing periods with higher curing rates (CRI) than the composites. The measured CRI showed close correlation with the activation energyEa, deduced from Ozawa and Kissinger kinetics models. The NBR‐rGO composites showed shorter scorch time and loweredEaat higher temperatures, with increased tensile properties than NB‐GO composites. Despite the delay, the composites exhibited high strength over the virgin NBR, due to tighter networks introduced by rGO and GO sheets within NBR. Therefore, future design of elastomer‐GDS‐based composites must involve a careful control of the amounts of the accelerator‐/co‐accelerator‐like TMTD in the mixtures for improved physico‐mechanical properties of the final product.

Study of the Impact of Ionic Liquid on the Reactive Compatibilization of the NBR/EVASH/PP Vulcanized Thermoplatic Elastomer Using the Click Chemistry Technique by Thiol-Ene

The dynamic vulcanization technique is a process of crosslinking an elastomer during mixing with a molten state thermoplastic, resulting in a new class of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs): vulcanized thermoplastics (TPVs). This technique obtains materials with rubber behavior at room temperature, but processed as plastics at high temperatures, especially by extrusion and injection. The advantage of using the process of obtaining thermoplastic elastomers is that traditional elastomers require several steps in their processing. From an environmental point of view, vulcanized thermoplastics are interesting, since these materials keep their properties practically unchanged with direct recycling, without the need for any treatments. The objective of this work was to develop a new system of reactive compatibilization for the PP/NBR mixture, by means of the click chemistry technique by the reaction of the thiol-ene type, using as a compatibilizing agent the addition of EVASH (Poli (ethylene-co-alcoholicvinyl)-co-mercapto-vinyl acetate), resulting from the chemical modification of EVA (poly (acrylonitrile-co-butadiene)) with mercaptan groups by transesterification. The ionic liquid acted as a catalyst, optimizing the transesterification reaction of EVA, to obtain EVASH with a greater presence of -SH to EVA, obtaining more rigid systems due to the click thiol-ene bond.

Microstructure-properties of dynamically vulcanized mengkuang leaf fibre/ethylene vinyl acetate/natural rubber thermoplastic elastomer composites

Thermoplastic elastomer composites based on ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), natural rubber (NR), and Mengkuang leaf fibre were prepared using the sulfur and peroxide vulcanization systems. Different curing systems and fibre loadings affecting the processing torque, tensile, thermal, and morphology of the composites were investigated. Addition of Mengkuang leaf fibre resulted in poor fibre dispersion and agglomeration in the matrix, which may have affected the efficiency of stress transfer and thus could explain a decline in tensile and thermal properties. Composites with dynamic vulcanization showed a rougher surface that might be due to the presence of crosslinking, which requires more force to fail. The increase in stabilization torque for the composites with dynamic vulcanization was observed due to the addition of curing agents, which implies some changes at the molecular level due to crosslinking. Tensile properties of Mengkuang leaf fibre filled EVA/NR composites indicated that the tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young’s modulus of the peroxide cure system were higher than the sulfur cure system and unvulcanised composites. The sulphur cure system showed better resistance towards thermal degradation compared to the peroxide cure system. This was attributed to dicumyl peroxide (DCP), which degrades the polymer chain or the composites at high temperature.

Solid State Orientation of Thermoplastic Vulcanizates

AbstractDie drawing has been used to produce polymeric products with superior mechanical properties by orientation of polymer chains. Although this process has been studied for a variety of thermoplastics and composites, there are no current publications exploring its efficacy to enhance thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs). TPVs combine the elasticity and high elongation at break of thermosets while maintaining the processability of a thermoplastic. For the first time, TPVs are die drawn and the effect upon their mechanical and thermal properties is investigated. TPVs based upon ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and polypropylene (PP) as well as ground tyre rubber (GTR) and PP are prepared by dynamic vulcanization using a twin‐screw extruder. In all cases, die drawing leads to an increase in tensile strength and modulus of the material along the drawing direction, often at the cost of elongation at break. At a draw ratio of 2, EPDM/PP TPVs exceed the strength and modulus of neat polypropylene whilst maintaining an elongation at break in excess of 200%. For EPDM/PP, tensile strength increases from ≈21 MPa to over 90 MPa using a draw ratio of 4, whilst for GTR/PP this increases from ≈15 to ≈57 MPa.

"Effect of supercritical carbon dioxide on vulcanization kinetics of silicone rubber"

"Effect of supercritical carbon dioxide on vulcanization kinetics of silicone rubber"

Diisocyanate-Induced Dynamic Vulcanization of Difunctional Fatty Acids toward Mechanically Robust PLA Blends with Enhanced Luminescence Emission

The toughening of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) often involves the use of nonbiodegradable or petrochemical elastomers owing to the lack of effective renewable alternatives and facile routes to tailor desirable morphologies. In this work, we developed a facile and universal dynamic vulcanization strategy of dual monomers to fabricate mechanically robust PLA blends. By increasing NCO/COOH equivalent ratios between l-lysine diisocyanate (LDI) and hydrogenated dimer acid (HDA) (i.e., nNCO,LDI/nCOOH,HDA) above 1.0:1, the phase structure of the resulting PLA blends transformed from the common “sea-island” morphology to partially or fully co-continuous ones. The extraordinary impact toughness (the maximum impact strength up to 109.8 kJ m–2) in combination with the balanced strength and stiffness was attributed to a continuous biopolyamide elastomer (HDAPA) with the simultaneous improvement in both the cross-linking level and interfacial compatibilization. Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanomechanical mapping results suggested that the cross-linking of HDAPA domains gradually prevailed from the boundaries into the whole domains with the elevated nNCO,LDI/nCOOH,HDA ratios. The mechanisms regarding multiple reactions and co-continuity development at an ultralow concentration of the minor HDAPA phase were elucidated. Intriguingly, the enhanced clustering-triggered emission was observed for the PLA/HDAPA blends with a fully co-continuous structure.

Preparation and properties of HDPE/MVQ thermoplastic vulcanizate with low-temperature-resistant super toughness and shape memory properties

A series of polyethylene (HDPE)/methyl vinyl silicone rubber (MVQ) TPVs was prepared by dynamic vulcanization technology with excellent tensile strength, low-temperature impact resistance and shape memory properties. This is the first paper to investigate the low-temperature impact resistance and shape memory properties of HDPE/MVQ TPVs. • A series of polyethylene (HDPE)/methyl vinyl silicone rubber (MVQ) TPVs was prepared by dynamic vulcanization technology. • These TPVs showed excellent tensile strength, low-temperature impact resistance and shape memory properties. • This is the first paper to investigate the low-temperature impact resistance and shape memory properties of HDPE/MVQ TPVs. • Especially, these TPVs showed excellent shape memory properties when the blending ratio of HDPE/MVQ was 60/40. • These TPVs are expected to be used as wrapping wires and cables.

Compatibilized thermoplastic elastomers based on highly filled polyethylene with ground tire rubber

AbstractThermoplastic elastomers (TPE) based on ground tire rubber (GTR) are good strategies for the circular economy and sustainable development of waste tire rubber recycling. However, several parameters must be optimized to produce valuable TPE. The most important ones are GTR concentration and dispersion, as well as crosslinking degree, combined with interfacial interactions between the GTR and the thermoplastic matrix. In this work, TPE based on highly filled linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) with GTR (50%–90%) was prepared via dynamic vulcanization. In particular, different reclaimed GTR (RR) was used alone or with a compatibilizer (maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene, PE‐g‐MAH) to prepare compatibilized TPE. The interactions between the rubber and plastic were quantified by a series of characterizations including mechanical tests, rheological measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the mechanical properties and processability decreased with increasing GTR content. Although the interfacial compatibility was improved with a higher GTR reclamation degree, the TPE mechanical properties were still gradually decreasing. To improve on these results, PE‐g‐MAH was added to increase the GTR‐LLDPE interfacial interactions. The results showed improvement in terms of mechanical properties and processability, especially for compatibilized TPE based on RR (tensile strength increased from 3.34 to 4.82 MPa and elongation at break from 91% to 101%).

Design and Synthesis of Epoxidized Soybean Oil‐Branched Cardanol Ethers as Poly(vinyl chloride) Plasticizers

AbstractTo overcome the migration of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) used as a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plasticizer, ESO‐branched cardanol (CD) ethers (ESO‐CDn) are designed and synthesized in this work. The incorporation of the benzene ring and the C15 straight chain of CD provided excellent plasticizing efficiency, and the increase in the molecular weight by branching CD with ESO enhanced the migration resistance of the plasticizer. In this work, two different methods are adopted to prepare PVC/ESO/CD and PVC/ESO‐CDn, namely the one‐step method (dynamic vulcanization of ESO, CD, and PVC) and the two‐step method (synthesis of ESO‐CD and then mixing it with PVC). The first method is convenient, while it is also uncontrollable, leading to an incomplete reaction between ESO and CD. The second method offers a controllable reaction between ESO and CD. The chemical structure of ESO‐CDn is fully characterized. Furthermore, the thermal, mechanical, rheology, and migration resistance properties of PVC/ESO/CD and PVC/ESO‐CDn are compared. The relationship between the molecular structure and plasticizer performance is investigated, and the plasticization mechanism is proposed. The tensile and thermal properties indicate that PVC/35ESO‐CD10 offered a superior anti‐thermal aging performance due to the excellent plasticizing and migration resistance effects of ESO‐CD10.

Development of thermoplastic vulcanizates based on in situ synthesized thermoplastic polyurethane and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber: the influence of the curing system

We prepared different thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) using an internal mixer. We investigated the properties of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) produced from prepolymers with various isocyanate content and two different chain extenders to select the most appropriate TPU matrix for preparing thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs). Based on the results, we selected a prepolymer with moderate isocyanate content (10%) and the more flexible 1,6-hexanediol as a chain extender and prepared TPVs by dynamic vulcanization with in situ produced TPU. The rubber phase was acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) with peroxidic and sulfuric curing with different accelerators. Dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA) results show that the room temperature storage modulus of the TPVs decreases due to the rubber phase. The TPU/NBR-CBS TPV with delayed action accelerator yields the highest tensile and tear strength and elongation at break. TPU/NBR-DCP made with a peroxide-based rubber blend shows similar tensile strength with significantly lower elongation at break and tear strength. The good mechanical properties of TPU/NBR-CBS can be explained by the long induction period, which allowed the rubber phase to disperse before vulcanization took place. In the TPU/NBR-DCP, the peroxide formed bonds not only in the rubber phase but also between the rubber and TPU phases, which is manifested in the high mixing torque and the result of the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

Dynamically vulcanized poly (lactic acid)/polyurethane/MXene nanocomposites with balanced stiffness and toughness

When brittle poly (lactic acid) (PLA) toughened by elastomers, loss of strength and modulus are inevitable, how to avoid the strength and modulus loss for elastomer toughened PLA is an urgent problem to be solved. In this study, a one-step dynamic vulcanization strategy was reported to prepare PLA/polyurethane (PU)/MXene nanocomposites with balanced stiffness and toughness based on the reaction between polyethylene glycol (PEG) and isophorone diisocyanate trimer (IPDIT). The effect of MXene content on the morphology, mechanical properties, thermal transitions and rheological behavior were investigated in detail. The results show that the PU generated during the dynamic vulcanization process and PLA have very good compatibility, and MXene nanosheets can be well dispersed in PLA/PU polymer matrix after pre-intercalation with PEG molecular chains. This study provides a promising strategy for manufacturing high performance PLA with balanced stiffness and toughness at industrial level.