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Rheological and thermoresponsive shape memory properties of polylactic acid (PLA) and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymer blends

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Abstract

In this study, a thermoresponsive shape memory polymer based on various compositions of melt blended of polylactic acid (PLA) and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymer was prepared. Dynamic rheological behavior was measured using a parallel plate rheometer over a range of 0.1–100 rad− 1 and was correlated with the shape memory, thermal and tensile properties of the blends. The blend with 70%PLA (70PLA/30SBS) that possessed intermediate storage and loss moduli showed the best shape memory performance in terms of shape fixity ratio (Rf) and shape recovery ratio (Rr). The tensile strength and modulus increased while elongation at break reduced with increasing PLA with significant changes found at 50PLA/50SBS due to the formation of co-continuous morphology. The SBS content did not significantly affect the glass transition temperature of the PLA but the crystallinity slightly increased with increasing SBS. The sea-island morphology of 70PLA/30SBS where SBS formed droplets in the PLA continuous phase provides optimum tensile and shape memory properties.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Universiti Sains Malaysia for the Research University Individual (RUI) grant (1001.PBAHAN.8014142) and the Emerging Polymer Research Group, School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, for their support.

Funding

This work was funded by Universiti Sains Malaysia under the Research University Individual (RUI) grant with grant number of 1001.PBAHAN.8014142.

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  1. School of Materials & Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, 14300, Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

    Fathin Hani Azizul Rahim & Arjulizan Rusli

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  1. Fathin Hani Azizul Rahim
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Correspondence to Arjulizan Rusli.

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Azizul Rahim, F.H., Rusli, A. Rheological and thermoresponsive shape memory properties of polylactic acid (PLA) and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymer blends. J Polym Res 29, 452 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-022-03296-9

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