Polylactic acid modified by reactive extrusion technology

Abstract

In recent years there has been an increase in interest in biodegradable polymers. Biopolymers are upcoming competitors for the synthetic polymers with their profound attributes like eco-friendliness and biodegradability. They can be classified as natural biopolymers, chemically synthesized biopolymers, and microbial biopolymers. One of the most widely used chemically synthesized biopolymers is aliphatic polyester polylactic acid (PLA). It is a thermoplastic derived from renewable, organic sources such as corn starch or sugar cane. Although PLA offers a number of advantages such as high strength and high modulus, excellent optical properties, moisture resistance and biocompatibility, this is a quite fragile material. Other disadvantages are poor impact strength and low elongation. One way to improve the unsuitable PLA mechanical properties is to modify the material with additives like plasticizers, fillers etc. In this research, attention is focused on modification of PLA by reactive extrusion technology. Obtained materials were tested by DSC to evaluate changes in transition temperatures of PLA (Tg, Tm) and mechanical properties were tested too. The significant changes in mechanical properties were noticed.