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Structural, morphological and mechanical characteristics of polyethylene, poly(lactic acid) and poly(ethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate) blends

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Abstract

In this work, uncompatibilized and compatibilized blends of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were subjected to several investigations: Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, morphological analysis and mechanical testing (tensile, impact, microhardness). The copolymer (ethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (EGMA) was used as compatibilizer. The percentages of PLA in LDPE/PLA samples ranged from 0 to 100 wt% while the EGMA was added to the blend 60/40 (LDPE/PLA) at concentrations of 2, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20 parts per hundred (phr). FTIR analysis showed the absence of any interaction between LDPE and PLA, but after addition of compatibilizer, reactions between epoxy groups of EGMA and carboxylic or hydroxyl groups of PLA were confirmed. Tensile and impact tests revealed a loss of ductility of LDPE with the incorporation of PLA, except for the composition 80/20 (LDPE/PLA). However, the addition of 15 phr of EGMA led to the maximum increase in the elongation-at-break (about three times the value of uncompatibilized blend) and in the impact strength, but a marginal improvement was observed for tensile strength. SEM micrographs confirmed that the enhancement of mechanical properties is due to the improvement of the interfacial adhesion between different phases owing to the presence of EGMA. The microhardness values of the different blends (uncompatibilized or compatibilized) were in good agreement with the macroscopic mechanical properties (tensile and impact strengths).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie des Hauts Polymères (LPCHP), Département Génie des Procédés, Université Ferhat Abbes, 19000, Sétif, Algéria

    Souad Djellali & Nacereddine Haddaoui

  2. Laboratoire des Matériaux Organiques (LMO), Département Génie des Procédés, Université A. Mira, 06000, Bejaia, Algéria

    Tahar Sadoun

  3. Centre des Matériaux de Grande Diffusion (CMGD), Ecole des Mine, 30319, Ales, France

    Anne Bergeret

  4. Laboratoire Polymères, Propriétés aux Interfaces et Composites (L2PIC), Université de Bretagne Sud, 56321, Lorient Cedex, France

    Yves Grohens

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  1. Souad Djellali
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  2. Nacereddine Haddaoui
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  3. Tahar Sadoun
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  4. Anne Bergeret
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  5. Yves Grohens
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Correspondence to Souad Djellali.

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Djellali, S., Haddaoui, N., Sadoun, T. et al. Structural, morphological and mechanical characteristics of polyethylene, poly(lactic acid) and poly(ethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate) blends. Iran Polym J 22, 245–257 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-013-0126-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-013-0126-6

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