Polylactide Strengthening and Strategies

Plasticization is frequently used to improve the processing behavior and the flexibility of PLA-based materials [48]. The extent of plasticization depends on the miscibility of plasticizers with host polymers as a function of molecular weight and loading level [41], but undesirable decrease in stif iess of the as-plasticized materials, together with the undesired leaching of the plasticizers over time are often observed [41,45,47]. 

Blending PLA with immiscible rubber-like polymers represents a more interesting way to reduce PLA brittleness, while keeping stiffness acceptable and preventing any undesirable aging. This yields a new type of polymeric materials with different properties, in which each polymeric partner provides its own feature in terms of impact-absorbing ability from impact modifiers and stiffness from PLA [49-51]. Recently, NatureWorks has defined the key parameters of impact modifiers useful for toughening PLA as follows [52]  

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WJ Polylactide Strengthening and Strategies 247 Build-up of hydrostatic tension Relief of hydrostatic tension... 

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