Research progress in toughening modification of poly(lactic acid) |
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Authors: | Hongzhi Liu Jinwen Zhang |
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Affiliation: | Composite Materials and Engineering Center, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164 |
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Abstract: | Renewable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) exhibits high strength and stiffness. PLA is fully biodegradable and has received great interest. However, the inherent brittleness of PLA largely impedes its wide applications. In this article, the recent progress in PLA toughening using various routes including plasticization, copolymerization, and melt blending with flexible polymers, was reviewed in detail. PLA toughening, particularly modification of impact toughness through melt blending, was emphasized in this review. Reactive blending was shown to be especially effective in achieving high impact strength. The relationship between composition, morphology, and mechanical properties were summarized. Toughening mechanisms were also discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011. |
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Keywords: | blending blends copolymerization plasticization polylactide reactive blending toughening toughness |
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