A comparative study on the effect of different reactive compatibilizers on injection‐molded pieces of bio‐based high‐density polyethylene/polylactide blends

ABSTRACT The present study reports on the development of binary blends consisting of bio‐based high‐density polyethylene (bio‐HDPE) with polylactide (PLA), in the 5–20 wt % range, prepared by melt compounding and then shaped into pieces by injection molding. In order to enhance the miscibility betwe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied polymer science 2019-04, Vol.136 (16), p.n/a
Main Authors: Quiles‐Carrillo, L., Montanes, N., Jorda‐Vilaplana, A., Balart, R., Torres‐Giner, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anhydrides
Biodegradable
Biomaterials
Biopolymers
Comparative studies
Compatibility
Compatibilizers
Crosslinking
Density
Dicumyl peroxide
Fracture surfaces
Fracture toughness
High density polyethylenes
Impact strength
Injection molding
Linseed oil
Maleic anhydride
Materials science
Mechanical Properties
Miscibility
Morphology
Polyethylene
Polymer blends
Polymers
Polyolefins
Surface stability
Thermal resistance
Thermal stability
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Summary:ABSTRACT The present study reports on the development of binary blends consisting of bio‐based high‐density polyethylene (bio‐HDPE) with polylactide (PLA), in the 5–20 wt % range, prepared by melt compounding and then shaped into pieces by injection molding. In order to enhance the miscibility between the green polyolefin and the biopolyester, different reactive compatibilizers were added during the melt‐blending process, namely polyethylene‐grafted maleic anhydride (PE‐g‐MA), poly(ethylene‐co‐glycidyl methacrylate) (PE‐co‐GMA), maleinized linseed oil (MLO), and a combination of MLO with dicumyl peroxide (DCP). Among the tested compatibilizers, the dual addition of MLO and DCP provided the binary blend pieces with the most balanced mechanical performance in terms of rigidity and impact strength as well as the highest thermal stability. The fracture surface of the binary blend piece processed with MLO and DCP revealed the formation of a continuous structure in which the dispersed PLA phase was nearly no discerned in the bio‐HDPE matrix. The resultant miscibility improvement was ascribed to both the high solubility and plasticizing effect of MLO on the PLA phase as well as the crosslinking effect of DCP on both biopolymers. The latter effect was particularly related to the formation of macroradicals of each biopolymer that, thereafter, led to the in situ formation of bio‐HDPE‐co‐PLA copolymers and also to the development of a partially crosslinked network in the binary blend. As a result, cost‐effective and fully bio‐based polymer pieces with improved mechanical strength, high toughness, and enhanced thermal resistance were obtained. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47396.
ISSN:0021-8995
1097-4628
DOI:10.1002/app.47396