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Biodegradable Compatibilized Poly(l-lactide)/Thermoplastic Polyurethane Blends: Design, Preparation and Property Testing

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Abstract

Biodegradable blends of poly(l-lactide) (PLL) toughened with a polycaprolactone-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer and compatibilized with a purpose-designed poly(l-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLLCL) copolymer were prepared. Both 2-component (PLL/TPU) and 3-component (PLL/TPU/PLLCL) blends of various compositions were prepared by melt mixing, hot-pressed into thin films and their properties tested. The results showed that, although the TPU could toughen the PLL, the blends were immiscible leading to phase separation with the TPU domains distributed in the PLL matrix. However, addition of the PLLCL copolymer could partially compatibilize the blend by improving the interfacial adhesion between the two phases. Biodegradability testing showed that the blends were biodegradable and that the PLLCL copolymer could increase the rate of biodegradation under controlled composting conditions. The 3-component blend of composition PLL/TPU/PLLCL = 90/10/10 parts by weight was found to exhibit the best all-round properties.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, for the provision of a research grant for one of us (K.S.) and the National Research University Project under Thailand’s Office of the Higher Education Commission for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polymer Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Kanyarat Suthapakti, Robert Molloy, Winita Punyodom & Kanarat Nalampang

  2. Materials Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Robert Molloy & Winita Punyodom

  3. National Metal and Materials Technology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand

    Thanawadee Leejarkpai

  4. Aston Institute of Materials Research, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK

    Paul D. Topham

  5. Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK

    Brian J. Tighe

Authors
  1. Kanyarat Suthapakti
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  2. Robert Molloy
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  3. Winita Punyodom
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  4. Kanarat Nalampang
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  5. Thanawadee Leejarkpai
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  6. Paul D. Topham
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  7. Brian J. Tighe
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Correspondence to Robert Molloy.

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Suthapakti, K., Molloy, R., Punyodom, W. et al. Biodegradable Compatibilized Poly(l-lactide)/Thermoplastic Polyurethane Blends: Design, Preparation and Property Testing. J Polym Environ 26, 1818–1830 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-017-1082-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-017-1082-6

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