Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA), which is widely used in degradable packaging and medicine, has attracted much attention in recent years. However, PLA's ductility and processability still need to be improved. Previous literature indicated that poly(butylene diglycolate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBDT) had good ductility, and degradability due to the introduction of diglycolic acid's ether group. Based on the above advantages of PBDT, the PLA/PBDT blends were prepared to improve the ductility of PLA. The blends' thermal, crystallinity, mechanical, and rheological properties and compatibility were characterized. The blends all showed greater elongation at break compared to PLA. The WAXD results showed that the tensile specimens of PBDT were semi-crystalline, and the tensile specimens of PLA and the blends were almost amorphous. The incorporation of PBDT caused the fracture behaviour of the blends to change from brittle to ductile behaviour. It is concluded that PBDT can effectively improve the ductility of PLA and the blend with 20 wt.% PBDT has high elongation at break (135%).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Swetha TA, Bora A, Mohanrasu K, Balaji P, Raja R, Ponnuchamy K, Muthusamy G, Arun A (2023) A comprehensive review on polylactic acid (PLA) – Synthesis, processing and application in food packaging. Int J Biol Macromol 234:123715
Qiu S, Zhou Y, Waterhouse GIN, Gong R, Xie J, Zhang K, Xu J (2021) Optimizing interfacial adhesion in PBAT/PLA nanocomposite for biodegradable packaging films. Food Chem 334:127487
Wufuer R, Li W, Wang S, Duo J (2022) Isolation and degradation characteristics of PBAT film degrading bacteria. Int J Environ Res Public Health 19(24):17087
Liu Y, Zhang W, Chen M, Zhao X, Liu H, Ge M, Li N, Ning Z, Gao W, Fan C, Li Q (2023) Molecular insights into effects of PBAT microplastics on latosol microbial diversity and DOM chemodiversity. J Hazard Mater 450:131076
Sun Y, Peng B-Y, Wang Y, Wang X, Xia S, Zhao J (2023) Evaluating the adsorption and desorption performance of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) microplastics towards Cu(II): The roles of biofilms and biodegradation. Chem Eng J 464:142714
Gao C, Wang Y, Yang Y, Qin S (2023) Poly(lactic acid) synthesized from non-food biomass feedstocks with tin-loaded ZA molecular sieve catalysts by direct melt polycondensation. Polym Int. https://doi.org/10.1002/pi.6594
Sui X, Zhao X, Wang Z, Sun S (2023) Super-ductile and stiff PBAT/PLA biodegradable composites balanced with random PMMA-co-GMA copolymer as compatibilizer. Polym Int 72(3):333–341
Barletta M, Aversa C, Ayyoob M, Gisario A, Hamad K, Mehrpouya M, Vahabi H (2022) Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS): materials, processing, and industrial applications. Prog Polym Sci 132:101579
Georgousopoulou I-N, Vouyiouka S, Dole P, Papaspyrides CD (2016) Thermo-mechanical degradation and stabilization of poly(butylene succinate). Polym Degrad Stab 128:182–192
Samantaray PK, Little A, Haddleton DM, McNally T, Tan B, Sun Z, Huang W, Ji Y, Wan C (2020) Poly(glycolic acid) (PGA): a versatile building block expanding high performance and sustainable bioplastic applications. Green Chem 22(13):4055–4081
Farah S, Anderson DG, Langer R (2016) Physical and mechanical properties of PLA, and their functions in widespread applications — a comprehensive review. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 107:367–392
Auras R, Harte B, Selke S (2004) An overview of polylactides as packaging materials. Macromol Biosci 4(9):835–864
Rasal RM, Janorkar AV, Hirt DE (2010) Poly(lactic acid) modifications. Prog Polym Sci 35(3):338–356
Zhou J, Wang B, Xu C, Xu Y, Tan H, Zhang X, Zhang Y (2022) Performance of composite materials by wood fiber/polydopamine/silver modified PLA and the antibacterial property. J Market Res 18:428–438
Zhao X, Li K, Wang Y, Tekinalp H, Larsen G, Rasmussen D, Ginder RS, Wang L, Gardner DJ, Tajvidi M, Webb E, Ozcan S (2020) High-strength polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposites reinforced by epoxy-modified pine fibers. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 8(35):13236–13247
Puthumana M, Santhana Gopala Krishnan P, Nayak SK (2020) Chemical modifications of PLA through copolymerization. Int J Polym Anal Charact 25(8):634–648
Zhao X, Yu J, Liang X, Huang Z, Li J, Peng S (2023) Crystallization behaviors regulations and mechanical performances enhancement approaches of polylactic acid (PLA) biodegradable materials modified by organic nucleating agents. Int J Biol Macromol 233:123581
Nagarajan V, Zhang K, Misra M, Mohanty AK (2015) Overcoming the fundamental challenges in improving the impact strength and crystallinity of PLA biocomposites: influence of nucleating agent and mold temperature. ACS Appl Mater Interface 7(21):11203–11214
Shin EJ, Jung YS, Park CH, Lee S (2023) Eco-friendly TPU/PLA blends for application as shape-memory 3D printing filaments. J Polym Environ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-023-02799-w
Kanda GS, Al-Qaradawi I, Luyt AS (2018) Morphology and property changes in PLA/PHBV blends as function of blend composition. J Polym Res 25(9):196
Eom Y, Choi B, Park S-I (2019) A Study on mechanical and thermal properties of PLA/PEO blends. J Polym Environ 27(2):256–262
Burzic I, Pretschuh C, Kaineder D, Eder G, Smilek J, Másilko J, Kateryna W (2019) Impact modification of PLA using biobased biodegradable PHA biopolymers. Eur Polymer J 114:32–38
Su S, Duhme M, Kopitzky R (2020) Uncompatibilized PBAT/PLA blends: manufacturability, miscibility and properties. Materials (Basel) 13(21):4897
Rosenboom J-G, De Lorenzi L, Storti G, Morbidelli M (2018) Reaction kinetics and simulations of ring-opening polymerization for the synthesis of polybutylene terephthalate. Polymer 146:120–132
Choi EY, Kim SW, Kim CK (2016) In situ grafting of polybutylene terephthalate onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes by melt extrusion, and characteristics of their composites with polybutylene terephthalate. Compos Sci Technol 132:101–107
Müller RJ, Witt U, Rantze E, Deckwer WD (1998) Architecture of biodegradable copolyesters containing aromatic constituents. Polym Degrad Stab 59(1):203–208
Liu T-Y, Xu P-Y, Dan H, Lu B, Zhen Z-C, Zheng W-Z, Dong Y-C, Li X, Wang G-X, Ji J-H (2023) Enhanced degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) by the addition of lactic acid / glycolic acid: composting degradation, seawater degradation behavior and comparison of degradation mechanism. J Hazard Mater 446:130670
Wang Y, Liu J, Li C, Xiao Y, Wu S, Zhang B (2022) Synthesis and characterization of poly(butylene terephthalate-co-glycolic acid) biodegradable copolyesters. Eur Polymer J 180:111613
Kabir E, Kaur R, Lee J, Kim K-H, Kwon EE (2020) Prospects of biopolymer technology as an alternative option for non-degradable plastics and sustainable management of plastic wastes. J Clean Prod 258:120536
Soccio M, Lotti N, Finelli L, Munari A (2010) Thermal characterization of novel aliphatic polyesters with ether and thioether linkages. e-Polymers 10:035
Chen M, Jiang Z, Qiu Z (2023) Synthesis, thermal, and mechanical properties of fully biobased poly(hexamethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate-co-diglycolate) copolyesters. Polymer 267:125678
Soccio M, Costa M, Lotti N, Gazzano M, Siracusa V, Salatelli E, Manaresi P, Munari A (2016) Novel fully biobased poly(butylene 2,5-furanoate/diglycolate) copolymers containing ether linkages: structure-property relationships. Eur Polymer J 81:397–412
Hu H, Li J, Luo S, Tian Y, Wang J, Zhao Y-L, Zhang R, Zhu J (2022) Design of 2,5-furandicarboxylic based polyesters degraded in different environmental conditions: comprehensive experimental and theoretical study. J Hazard Mater 425:127752
Quattrosoldi S, Guidotti G, Soccio M, Siracusa V, Lotti N (2022) Bio-based and one-day compostable poly(diethylene 2,5-furanoate) for sustainable flexible food packaging: effect of ether-oxygen atom insertion on the final properties. Chemosphere 291:132996
Tian Y, Hu H, Chen C, Li F, Bin Ying W, Zheng L, Wang J, Zhang R, Zhu J (2022) Enhanced seawater degradation through copolymerization with diglycolic acid: synthesis, microstructure, degradation mechanism and modification for antibacterial packaging. Chem Eng J 447:137535
Chen X-R, Chen W, Guixiang Z, Huang F-T, Zhang J (2007) Synthesis, 1H-NMR characterization, and biodegradation behavior of aliphatic–aromatic random copolyester. J Appl Polym Sci 104:2643–2649
Ming M, Zhou Y, Wang L, Zhou F, Zhang Y (2022) Effect of polycarbodiimide on the structure and mechanical properties of PLA/PBAT blends. J Polym Res 29(9):371
Long Y, Zhang R, Huang J, Wang J, Jiang Y, Hu G-H, Yang J, Zhu J (2017) Tensile property balanced and gas barrier improved poly(lactic acid) by blending with biobased poly(butylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate). Acs Sustain Chem Eng 5(10):9244–9253
Jiang L, Wolcott MP, Zhang J (2006) Study of biodegradable polylactide/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blends. Biomacromol 7(1):199–207
He L, Song F, Li D-F, Zhao X, Wang X-L, Wang Y-Z (2020) Strong and tough polylactic acid based composites enabled by simultaneous reinforcement and interfacial compatibilization of microfibrillated cellulose. Acs Sustain Chem Eng 8(3):1573–1582
Han CD, Chuang H-K (1985) Criteria for rheological compatibility of polymer blends. J Appl Polym Sci 30:4431–4454
Han CD, Jhon MS (1986) Correlations of the first normal stress difference with shear stress and of the storage modulus with loss modulus for homopolymers. J Appl Polym Sci 32:3809–3840
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, G., Wu, Y. Polylactic acid/poly(butylene diglycolate-co-butylene terephthalate) blends with improved toughness. Polym. Bull. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-024-05198-w
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-024-05198-w