Polylactide based bioblends

The inherent brittleness of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) resins still limits their wide spectra of applications. Abundant research efforts have been spent in the last decade to overcome this drawback. In this frame, in light of previous investigations, this work reports on a new strategy to improve the toughness of PLA by melt blending with other eco-friendly polymer phases as polycaprolactone (PCL) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR50). Binary PLA/ENR50 90/10 w/w, PCL/ENR50 50/50 w/w and ternary PLA/PCL/ENR50 72/10/18 w/w/w systems, the last material obtained from combination of the latter two ones were prepared by melt mixing and preliminary characterized by calorimetric and dynamic-mechanical test. Results emphasized that plasticizing effects of secondary low glass transition phases (PCL and ENR50) markedly affect the rubbery behaviour of products as a sign of structural changes, still under investigation, and potential improvements of toughness of considered PLA based formulations.