On the Evaluation of Flow Properties Characterizing Blown Film Extrusion of Polyolefin Alternatives

The lower melt strength of biodegradable materials in comparison to low density polyethylenes raises serious issues regarding their processability via blown film molding. Thus, reliable rheological characterization is a viable option for assessing their efficient flow performance. The blends of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) modified with four chain-extending cross-linkers (CECLs) undergo shearing during extrusion and are subjected to extensional deformation during the subsequent film blowing. The shear viscosity data obtained with a capillary rheometer corresponded well to the molecular weights obtained by gel permeation chromatography, while an evaluation of elongational viscosity using a Sentmanat Extensional Rheometer failed due to sample sagging during the process of temperature setting and an unacceptable deviation from the theoretically supposed exponential decrease of sample cross-sections. Therefore, the response of the PBAT/PLA blends to elongation was determined via changes in the duration of time intervals corresponding to the rupture of elongated samples. An increased consistency of the PBAT/PLA blends with CECL, as previously indicated by dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy, was evaluated in this way.