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Ethylene Methyl Acrylate Copolymer Toughened Poly(lactic acid) Blends: Phase Morphologies, Mechanical and Rheological Properties

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Published/Copyright: June 23, 2016
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International Polymer Processing
From the journal International Polymer Processing Volume 31 Issue 3

Abstract

The ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer (EMA), for the first time, was melt blended with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by a twin-screw extruder to toughen PLA. The phase morphologies, mechanical, and rheological properties of the PLA/EMA blends with six weight ratios were investigated. The results showed that the addition of EMA improves the toughness of PLA at the expense of the tensile strength, flexural strength and modulus to a certain degree, and results in the transition from brittle fracture of PLA into ductile fracture. The droplet-matrix morphology is observed in the PLA/EMA blends, in which the mean diameter of EMA droplets increases and its distribution widens gradually with increasing the EMA content. The PLA/EMA blends with three weight ratios (90/10, 80/20, and 70/30) display different characteristic linear viscoelastic properties in the low frequency region, which were investigated in terms of their complex viscosity, storage modulus, and Cole-Cole plots. The interfacial tension between the PLA and EMA is calculated using the Palierne model conducted on the 80/20 PLA/EMA blend, and the calculated result is 3.3 mN/m.

*Correspondence address, Mail address: Yong Qing Zhao, The Key Laboratory of Polymer Processing Engineering of Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, Guangdong, PRC. E-mail:

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Received: 2015-09-13
Accepted: 2016-02-20
Published Online: 2016-06-23
Published in Print: 2016-07-30

© 2016, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Regular Contributed Articles
  4. Estimation of Bulk Melt-Temperature from In-Mold Thermal Sensors for Injection Molding, Part B: Validation
  5. Online Measurement of Electrospinning Jet Velocity of Polyvinyl Alcohol
  6. Rheological Characterization and Thermal Stability of Different Intrinsic Viscosity Poly(ethylene terephthalate) in Air and Nitrogen
  7. Ethylene Methyl Acrylate Copolymer Toughened Poly(lactic acid) Blends: Phase Morphologies, Mechanical and Rheological Properties
  8. Comparative Effects of mEOC on the Structures and Properties of PP/SGF and PP/EOC/SGF Composite Foams
  9. Development of Styrenic Copolymers for Improving Heat Resistance of Poly(methyl methacrylate)
  10. Study of Dispersive and Distributive Mixing in a Converging Pipe
  11. Investigation of Surface Roughness and MRR for Engineering Polymers with the Abrasive Water Jet Turning Process
  12. Recycling the Cork Powder in a PVC-Based Composite Material: Combined Effect on Physico-Mechanical and Thermal Properties
  13. Influences on the Magnetic Properties of Injection Molded Multipolar Rings
  14. PMMA Micro-Pillar Forming in Micro Channel by Hot Embossing
  15. Experimental Investigation and Modeling of a New High Speed Coating Process
  16. Statistical Approach to Analyze the Warpage, Shrinkage and Mechanical Strength of Injection Molded Parts
  17. Optical Properties of HDPE in Injection Molding and Injection Press Molding for IR System Lenses
  18. PPS News
  19. PPS News
  20. Seikei Kakou Abstracts
  21. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
https://doi.org/10.3139/217.3178

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Regular Contributed Articles
  4. Estimation of Bulk Melt-Temperature from In-Mold Thermal Sensors for Injection Molding, Part B: Validation
  5. Online Measurement of Electrospinning Jet Velocity of Polyvinyl Alcohol
  6. Rheological Characterization and Thermal Stability of Different Intrinsic Viscosity Poly(ethylene terephthalate) in Air and Nitrogen
  7. Ethylene Methyl Acrylate Copolymer Toughened Poly(lactic acid) Blends: Phase Morphologies, Mechanical and Rheological Properties
  8. Comparative Effects of mEOC on the Structures and Properties of PP/SGF and PP/EOC/SGF Composite Foams
  9. Development of Styrenic Copolymers for Improving Heat Resistance of Poly(methyl methacrylate)
  10. Study of Dispersive and Distributive Mixing in a Converging Pipe
  11. Investigation of Surface Roughness and MRR for Engineering Polymers with the Abrasive Water Jet Turning Process
  12. Recycling the Cork Powder in a PVC-Based Composite Material: Combined Effect on Physico-Mechanical and Thermal Properties
  13. Influences on the Magnetic Properties of Injection Molded Multipolar Rings
  14. PMMA Micro-Pillar Forming in Micro Channel by Hot Embossing
  15. Experimental Investigation and Modeling of a New High Speed Coating Process
  16. Statistical Approach to Analyze the Warpage, Shrinkage and Mechanical Strength of Injection Molded Parts
  17. Optical Properties of HDPE in Injection Molding and Injection Press Molding for IR System Lenses
  18. PPS News
  19. PPS News
  20. Seikei Kakou Abstracts
  21. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
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