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Toughness decrease of PLA-PHBHHx blend films upon surface-confined photopolymerization.

Rahul M Rasal1, Douglas E Hirt

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, USA.

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Photoinduced grafting reactions on poly(L-lactic acid)-poly[(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyhexanoate)] (PLA-PHBHHx) blends decreased toughness due to UV-assisted crystallization. Annealing restored toughness, but subsequent aging caused loss.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Materials Science
  • Surface Chemistry

Background:

  • Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) and poly[(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyhexanoate)] (PHBHHx) blends are investigated for improved material properties.
  • Melt-processed PLA-PHBHHx blends exhibit non-compatibility and susceptibility to physical aging, leading to toughness loss.
  • Annealing can temporarily restore toughness in aged PLA-PHBHHx blend films.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of photoinduced grafting on the bulk properties of PLA-PHBHHx blend films.
  • To analyze the changes in toughness, compatibility, and physical aging behavior after surface modification.
  • To understand the role of UV-assisted solvent-induced crystallization in property alterations.

Main Methods:

  • Melt processing of PLA-PHBHHx blend films.
  • Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for physical aging analysis.
  • Sequential, two-step photografting of hydrophilic monomers (acrylic acid, acrylamide).
  • Water contact angle goniometry, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and mechanical testing for characterization.
  • Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) to analyze crystallization.

Main Results:

  • PLA-PHBHHx blends (10 wt % PHBHHx) showed initial toughness improvement but suffered from physical aging.
  • Photografting of hydrophilic monomers onto the film surface significantly reduced overall film toughness.
  • UV-assisted solvent-induced crystallization was identified as the cause for toughness loss after surface modification.

Conclusions:

  • Surface modification via photografting negatively impacts the bulk toughness of PLA-PHBHHx blend films.
  • The observed toughness reduction is attributed to UV-assisted crystallization induced during the surface modification process.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for designing functionalized biodegradable polymer blends with tailored properties.