Poly(lactic acid) / Poly(ethylene glycol) blends: Mechanical, thermal and morphological properties

The poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was melt blended with linear polyethylene glycol (PEG) in an effort to increase the toughness of PLA. Melt blending was carried out in an internal mixer at 180 °C mixing temperature with 50 rpm for 15 minutes. The blends were characterized in terms of mechanical, thermal and morphological properties. It was found that tensile and flexural strength, stiffness and notched Izod impact strength decreased significantly when the PEG was added to the PLA matrix at 2.5-10% of PEG concentrations. Both glass transition and melting temperatures (Tg and Tm) lowered as the concentration of PEG was increased. Moreover, it was noted that the PLA/PEG blends showed a lower onset and peak degradation temperatures but with lower final degradation temperature as compared to the neat PLA. The morphological analysis revealed that the PEG was dispersed as droplets in the PLA matrix with a clear boundary between PLA matrix and PEG phases.