The effect of dynamic vulcanization on the morphological and mechanical properties of the toughened poly (lactic acid)/epoxidized natural rubber

Abstract

Poly (lactic acid)/epoxidized natural rubber (PLA/ENR) was prepared by using counter-rotating twin-screw extruder. For dynamic vulcanization process, ENR was compounded with 3 phr of N, N’-m-phenylenebismaleimide (HVA-2) as a crosslinking agent. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of unvulcanized and dynamically vulcanized of ENR on the properties of PLA/ENR blend. The blending of PLA with ENR was prepared with the various composition of ENR (0 wt% to 30 wt%). The morphology and mechanical properties of the blends were investigated by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), tensile test, and impact test. The unvulcanized blend produced a co-continuous morphology of PLA and ENR and the dynamically vulcanized blend shows the dispersed ENR rubber particles in PLA continuous matrix.  For both systems, the tensile strength value was dropped with the increasing amount of ENR content. The impact strength of both systems shows the maximum value at 20 wt% of ENR content. However, dynamically vulcanized PLA/ENR blend shows a better tensile strength and impact strength value as compared with unvulcanized blend.