Crosslinked bicontinuous biobased PLA/NR blends via dynamic vulcanization using different curing systems

Daosheng Yuan; Kunling Chen; Chuanhui Xu; Zhonghua Chen; Yukun Chen

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.07.044

Crosslinked bicontinuous biobased PLA/NR blends via dynamic vulcanization using different curing systems

Carbohydr Polym. 2014 Nov 26:113:438-45. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.07.044. Epub 2014 Jul 30.

Authors

Daosheng Yuan¹, Kunling Chen¹, Chuanhui Xu², Zhonghua Chen¹, Yukun Chen³

Affiliations

¹ The Key Laboratory of Polymer Processing Engineering, Ministry of Education, China (South China University of Technology), Guangzhou 510640, China.
² The Key Laboratory of Polymer Processing Engineering, Ministry of Education, China (South China University of Technology), Guangzhou 510640, China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China. Electronic address: xuhuiyee@gxu.edu.cn.
³ The Key Laboratory of Polymer Processing Engineering, Ministry of Education, China (South China University of Technology), Guangzhou 510640, China. Electronic address: cyk@scut.edu.cn.

PMID: 25256505
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.07.044

Abstract

In this study, blends of entirely biosourced polymers, namely polylactide (PLA) and natural rubber (NR), were prepared through dynamic vulcanization using dicumyl peroxide (DCP), sulphur (S) and phenolic resin (2402) as curing agents, respectively. The crosslinked NR phase was found to be a continuous structure in all the prepared blends. The molecular weight changes of PLA were studied by gel permeation chromatography. Interfacial compatibilization between PLA and NR was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The thermal properties of blends were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis instrument. It was found that the molecular weight of PLA and interfacial compatibilizaion between PLA and NR showed a significant influence on the mechanical and thermal properties of blends. The PLA/NR blend (60/40 w/w) by DCP-induced dynamic vulcanization owned the finest mechanical properties and thermal stability.

Keywords: Blends; Curing of polymers; Mechanical properties; Morphology.

MeSH terms

Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
Formaldehyde / chemistry
Phenols / chemistry
Polyesters / chemistry*
Polymers / chemistry
Rubber / chemistry*
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Substances

Biocompatible Materials
Phenols
Polyesters
Polymers
Formaldehyde
poly(lactide)
phenol-formaldehyde resin
Rubber