Tensile Properties of Poly(L-Lactic) Acid(PLLA) Blends

Abstract

Poly (L-lactic) Acid (PLLA) is one type of degradable polymer which mostly used for bioplastic. PLLA has strength and modulus comparable with another commercial polymer and not degrade in general environment, however PLLA exhibits brittle fracture. In the present study, blending between PLLA with other polymers was carried out to improve the brittleness of PLLA resin. Polymers that been used in the blending process are synthetic rubber, waste rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid microsphere. Blend ratio (98/2) was considered in the study . The tensile properties and morphology was investigated using tensile testing and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). It was found that the addition of PLA microsphere shows the highest tensile strength and elongation at break and good Youngs modulus. While waste rubber and synthetic rubber exhibit the lowest tensile properties. In general, it is found that the toughness of PLLA can be improved by blending method.