Toughness enhancement of poly(lactic acid) through hybridisation with epoxide-functionalised silane via reactive extrusion

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was hybridised with epoxide-functionalised silane (GTMS) through reactive extrusion. The GTMS was grafted successfully to PLA via a ring-opening reaction with the nucleophilic end groups of PLA. For hybridisation, PLA was extruded with various amounts of GTMS between 0 and 2.0 phr at 200 °C. The PLA hybrids were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Their properties were examined by tensile testing, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, and rheological characterisation. The glass transition temperature of the hybrids decreased to 52.7 °C compared to that of PLA (60.1 °C). The toughness was enhanced significantly by approximately 380% with only a 0.5 phr loading of GTMS. The hydrolytic degradation was also delayed by the hybridised GTMS in the PLA matrix. In conclusion, hybridisation by GTMS influenced the thermal, mechanical and degradable properties of the PLA hybrids substantially. [Display omitted] •Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was hybridised with epoxide-functionalised silane (GTMS) through reactive extrusion.•The toughness was enhanced significantly by approximately 380% with only a 0.5 phr loading of GTMS.•The hydrolytic degradation was also delayed by the hybridised GTMS in the PLA matrix.•Hybridisation by GTMS influenced the thermal, mechanical and degradable properties of the PLA hybrids substantially.