Preparation and Properties of Poly(lactic Acid)/PLA-g-ABS Blends

• Published in: Fibers and polymers Vol. 19; no. 10; pp. 2016 - 2022
• Main Authors: Chaikeaw, Charungkit, Srikulkit, Kawee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Fiber Society 01.10.2018; Springer Nature B.V; 한국섬유공학회
• Subjects: Adhesive strength; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Elongation; Impact resistance; Impact strength; Injection molding; Mechanical properties; Polylactic acid; Polymer blends; Polymer Sciences; Polymethacrylic acid; Potassium persulfate; Rubber; 섬유공학; Mechanical properties; Carboxylated ABS; Poly(lactic acid)/PLA; ABS blends
• ISSN: 1229-9197; 1875-0052
• DOI: 10.1007/s12221-018-8320-y

PLA/PLA- g -ABS blends were prepared and evaluated for mechanical properties performance. Firstly, carboxylic acid functionalized ABS particles were synthesized by grafting polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) onto ABS particle surface using potassium persulfate as an initiator. The reaction was followed by FTIR analysis. The resultant carboxylated ABS was melt mixed with virgin PLA in an internal mixer to obtain PLA/PLA- g -ABS blends. The obtained PLA/PLA- g -ABS blends were subject to injection molding to obtain specimens for testing evaluation. It was found that impact resistance values significantly outperformed neat PLA by 60 %, 87 %, and 150 % for PLA/PLA- g -ABS 10 wt%, PLA/PLA- g -ABS 20 wt%, and PLA/PLA- g -ABS 30 wt%, respectively. A significant increase in impact strength was contributable to ABS rubber which exhibited even dispersion and good interfacial adhesion. The impact strength was dependent on the percent loading of PLAg-ABS; the more the PLA/PLA- g -ABS the higher the impact strength value. In a similar manner, tensile strength increases when loaded with PLA/PLA- g -ABS albeit at lesser effect. Considering the percent elongation, a massive increase in percent elongation was recorded in case of PLA/PLA- g -ABS 20 wt% and PLA/PLA- g -ABS 30 wt%, implying that these blends were extremely flexible and tough when compared to neat PLA, control, and PLA/PLA-g-ABS 10 wt%.