Toughening modification of poly(lactic acid) using modified natural rubber
Issued Date
2022-04-01
Resource Type
ISSN
10261265
eISSN
17355265
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85119857465
Journal Title
Iranian Polymer Journal (English Edition)
Volume
31
Issue
4
Start Page
455
End Page
469
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Iranian Polymer Journal (English Edition) Vol.31 No.4 (2022) , 455-469
Suggested Citation
Tessanan W., Phinyocheep P. Toughening modification of poly(lactic acid) using modified natural rubber. Iranian Polymer Journal (English Edition) Vol.31 No.4 (2022) , 455-469. 469. doi:10.1007/s13726-021-01000-0 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/84097
Title
Toughening modification of poly(lactic acid) using modified natural rubber
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
The toughening modification of PLA was successfully performed by incorporating modified natural rubber (MNR). The MNR was obtained from chemical modification of natural rubber (NR) in a latex system through a two-step procedure; hydrogenation followed by epoxidation reaction. Different amounts of NR and MNR were mixed with PLA by a physical melt-blending procedure. As a result, blending MNR (5% by weight) with PLA could efficiently strengthen fracture resistance (18.89 kJ/m2) and stretchability (113.79%), approximately fivefold and 16-fold, respectively, compared to the neat PLA (3.58 kJ/m2 impact strength and 7.08% elongation-at-break). In comparison, impact strength (7.21 kJ/m2) and elongation-at-break (8.64%) of NR/PLA were found at the same weight ratio. The high toughening efficiency of MNR for PLA could be explained by their good compatibility of the two phases. The impact-fractured surface of the blend showed fine rubber particles and stretched-rubber fibrils in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) image. Furthermore, the optical properties in terms of light transmission of the MNR/PLA blend displayed higher transparency (74.62%) than the unmodified NR/PLA blend (34.34%). The obtained results suggest that the developed MNR will offer a potential application as a high impact modifier for PLA. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]