Toward Supertough and Heat-Resistant Stereocomplex-Type Polylactide/Elastomer Blends with Impressive Melt Stability via in Situ Formation of Graft Copolymer during One-Pot Reactive Melt Blending

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b02626
• Publication Date: 2019-02-08T12:31:59Z
• Authors: Shihao Deng; Hongwei Bai; Zhenwei Liu; Qin Zhang; Qiang Fu
• Keywords: Heat deflection temperature; Vicat softening point; Glycidyl methacrylate; Lactide

Stereocomplexation of enantiomeric poly(l-lactide)/poly(d-lactide) (PLLA/PDLA) chains opens up a great opportunity toward sustainable PLA engineering plastic with exceptional heat resistance and durability. However, the processing applications stereocomplex-type (SC-PLA) are significantly blocked by its inferior melt stability (i.e., weak memory effect in triggering complete SC crystallization, which makes it hard to obtain exclusive formation crystallites melt-processed products) inherent brittleness. In this contribution, we demonstrate an unprecedented strategy address these obstacles one-pot reactive blending equimolar PLLA/PDLA blend poly(ethylene–methyl acrylate–glycidyl methacrylate) (E-MA-GMA) presence catalyst, where both stereocomplexation grafting some onto E-MA-GMA backbones take place simultaneously competitively. Intriguingly, E-MA-graft-PLA copolymer situ formed can substantially improve SC-PLA matrix as compatibilizer, thus highly crystalline SC-PLA/E-MA-GMA products be readily obtained injection molding. Moreover, also strengthen interface interfacial enhancer, gives rise increase toughening efficiency. As result, blends exhibits impressive (the Vicat softening temperature deflection high 201 174 °C, respectively) impact toughness notched Izod strength is close 65 kJ/m2). Notably, their comprehensive performance superior commercial petroleum-derived plastics. Overall, syntheses could open new horizon for creating super-robust SC-PLA-based using industrial melt-processing technologies.