Systematic studies on the properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/liquid polybutadiene rubber (LPB) reactive blends

Following our previous work, we have conducted further systematic studies to investigate the effects of reactive blending on the thermal and mechanical properties of blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a liquid rubber, polybutadiene (LPB). The toughened PLAs were prepared by melt-blending the PLA with various contents (0-9 wt.%) of the LPB in the absence or presence of dicumyl peroxide (DCP), a radical initiator. It was found that the rubber domains were homogeneously dispersed at the nanoscale in the PLA matrix up to 9 wt.% of LPB thanks to the reactive blending in the presence of DCP. Owing to the compatibilization of PLA with LPB through reactive blending, the elongation and toughness of PLA was enhanced, while the hydrolytic degradation of PLA was reduced.