Biodegradable polymers: Wall slip, melt fracture, and processing aids

The wall slip and melt fracture behaviour of several commercial polylactides (PLAs) and poly(ε-caprolactone), (PCLs) have been investigated. PLAs with molecular weights greater than a certain value were found to slip, with the slip velocity to increase with decrease of molecular weight consistent with wall slip data reported in the literature for other systems. The onset of melt fracture for the high molecular weight PLAs was found to occur at about 0.2 to 0.3 MPa, depending on the geometrical characteristics of the dies and independent of temperature. Similarly, sharkskin and gross melt fracture was observed for the case of PCLs depending on the molecular characteristics of the resins and the geometrical details of the capillary dies. It was also found that the addition of a small amount of PCL (typically 0.5 wt.%) into the PLA and vice versa is effective in eliminating and delaying the onset of melt fracture to higher shear rates in the capillary extrusion of PLA and PCL respectively. This is due to significant interfacial slip that occurs in the presence of PCL or PLA as well as to the immiscibility of the PLA/PCL blend system at all compositions.