This study investigated the impact of a multiple epoxy chain extender (ADR) on the rheological behavior, crystallization, and mechanical properties of polyglycolic acid (PGA). Tests of the torque and melt mass flow rate and dynamic rheological analysis were conducted to study the rheological behavior of PGA modified with ADR. The rheological results of the modified PGA showed a significantly increased viscosity and storage modulus with an increase in the ADR amount, which could be attributed to the chain extension/branching reactions between PGA and ADR. It was proved that ADR could be used as an efficient chain extender for tailoring the rheological performance of PGA. The Han plot of the modified PGA showed a transition of viscous behavior to elastic behavior, while the ADR content was increased from 0 to 0.9 phr. The formation of long-chain branches (LCBs) was confirmed via the Cole-Cole plot and weighted relaxation spectrum, wherein the LCBs substantially changed the rheological behavior of the modified PGA. The vGP plots predicted a star-type topological structure for the LCBs. The results of non-isothermal crystallization kinetics suggested that the crystallization of the modified PGA was predominantly homogeneous nucleation and three-dimensional growth. The crystallinity decreased slightly with the increase in the ADR amount. Compared to neat PGA, the modified PGA samples exhibited better tensile and flexural performances.
Keywords: chain extender; mechanical properties; non-isothermal crystallization; polyglycolic acid; rheology.