Potential transparent PLA impact modifiers based on PMMA copolymers

• Published in: European polymer journal Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 957 - 966
• Main Authors: Choochottiros, Chantiga, Chin, In-Joo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Copolymers; Exact sciences and technology; Free radical; Free radicals; Impact modifier; Impact modifiers; Impact strength; Mechanical properties; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Poly(methyl methacrylate); Polybutadienes; Polylactide; Polylactides; Polymethyl methacrylates; Properties and characterization; Segments; Transparency; Poly(methyl methacrylate); Impact modifier; Transparency; Polylactide; Free radical; Strengthening; Butadiene copolymer; Polymer blends; Mechanical properties; Hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer; Experimental study; Methyl methacrylate copolymer; Butyl acrylate copolymer; Glass transition temperature; Heterogeneous mixture; Lactic acid polymer; Impact strength; Optical properties; Preparation; Radical copolymerization; Comparative study; Butyl methacrylate copolymer
• ISSN: 0014-3057; 1873-1945
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2012.12.008

[Display omitted] ► Two synthetic routes were employed to produce impact modifier for PLA. ► BMBH and BLMB copolymers were based on PMMA to retain optical transparency. ► Polybutadiene moiety was also introduced to absorb impact energy. ► Impact strength of the modified PLA compounds increased as much as 25%. Two parallel routes were employed to prepare potential transparent impact modifiers for polylactide(PLA). Poly(butadiene-co-methyl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) or poly(butadiene-co-methyl methacrylate-co-butyl acrylate-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (collectively abbreviated as BMBH copolymer) was prepared by free radical method, possessing polybutadiene domain as rubbery segment to absorb impact energy. It also contained another segment which was composed of methyl methacrylate based polymers to provide optical transparency. Compound of PLA and BMBH copolymers showed an increase of impact strength of only 12% compared to virgin PLA. The other copolymer, poly(butadiene-co-lactide-co-methyl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate) (abbreviated as BLMB), consisted of not only polybutadiene and methyl methacrylate based polymer, but also polylactide segment to ascertain compatibility with the PLA matrix. Addition of BLMB copolymers increased the impact strength of PLA up to 25%, while retaining optical transparency.