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Phase inversion in polylactide/soybean oil blends compatibilized by poly(isoprene-b-lactide) block copolymers
Kwanho Chang1, Megan L Robertson, Marc A Hillmyer
1Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|April 2, 2010
Summary
Researchers created renewable composites from polylactide and soybean oil. Adding block copolymers tuned blend morphology, enabling higher soybean oil incorporation by inducing phase inversion.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science and Engineering
- Materials Science
- Renewable Materials
Background:
- Developing sustainable and high-performance renewable composites is crucial for reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
- Polylactide (PLA) and soybean oil are abundant, biodegradable resources with potential for composite applications.
- Achieving desirable blend morphologies and properties in immiscible polymer systems like PLA/soybean oil presents significant challenges due to viscosity differences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the preparation and morphological control of renewable composites based on polylactide and soybean oil.
- To explore the role of poly(isoprene-b-lactide) block copolymers in tuning the blend morphology and enhancing soybean oil incorporation.
- To understand the mechanisms, including thermodynamic interactions and shear forces, governing phase inversion and droplet size.
Main Methods:
- Melt blending of polylactide and soybean oil.
- Addition of varying compositions of poly(isoprene-b-lactide) block copolymers to modify blend morphology.
- Analysis of blend morphology, phase behavior, and droplet size distribution as a function of block copolymer content.
Main Results:
- A critical block copolymer composition was identified that induced phase inversion, transforming soybean oil from dispersed droplets to the continuous matrix.
- The block copolymer addition significantly increased the maximum achievable soybean oil content in the polylactide matrix from 6% to 20%.
- The size of soybean oil droplets within the polylactide matrix was found to be highly dependent on the block copolymer composition.
Conclusions:
- Poly(isoprene-b-lactide) block copolymers are effective compatibilizers for polylactide/soybean oil blends, enabling significant morphological control.
- The addition of block copolymers facilitates phase inversion and substantially enhances the incorporation limit of soybean oil in renewable composites.
- This study demonstrates a viable strategy for developing advanced renewable composites with tunable properties by controlling blend morphology.
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