Widening the Application Range of PLA‐Based Thermoplastic Materials through the Synthesis of PLA‐Polyether Block Copolymers: Thermal, Tensile, and Rheological Properties
Abstract Polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol (PPG), and poly(ethylene glycol‐co‐propylene glycol) (PEPG) of number average molar masses (Mn) of 6–20 kDa are used as macroinitiators in the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of l‐lactide to synthesize high molar mass (50 kDa < MnCopo <...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley-VCH
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Macromolecular Materials and Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202300309 |
| _version_ | 1797262362027229184 |
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| author | Benjamín Rodríguez Hernández Antje Lieske |
| author_facet | Benjamín Rodríguez Hernández Antje Lieske |
| author_sort | Benjamín Rodríguez Hernández |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol (PPG), and poly(ethylene glycol‐co‐propylene glycol) (PEPG) of number average molar masses (Mn) of 6–20 kDa are used as macroinitiators in the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of l‐lactide to synthesize high molar mass (50 kDa < MnCopo < 120 kDa) PLLA‐b‐polyether‐b‐PLLA linear triblock and starblock copolymers. At the studied block lengths, PEG and PEPG blocks exhibit miscibility with the PLLA blocks in the amorphous domains leading to a plasticization effect. As the PEG or PEPG block content is increased to 18 %wt, the Tg (Tg ≈ 24 °C) and the elastic modulus (E ≈ 500 MPa) are reduced, while the elongation at break (εb ≈ 280%) and crystallization rate are increased. At the same time, small angle oscillatory shear (SAOS) rheometric measurements show that the plasticized copolymers have a reduced melt viscosity. In contrast, SAOS and DSC measurements of the PPG‐containing block copolymers reveal phase separation of the PPG and PLA blocks leading to microstructures in the melt. Tensile tests show that the phase‐separated PPG‐containing block copolymers are more ductile than PLA homopolymers, but more brittle than the PEG‐ or PEPG‐plasticized block copolymers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:55:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-36bbe283896343f09b4acb46bc6a25c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-7492 1439-2054 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:55:54Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley-VCH |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Macromolecular Materials and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-36bbe283896343f09b4acb46bc6a25c42024-03-14T13:40:37ZengWiley-VCHMacromolecular Materials and Engineering1438-74921439-20542024-03-013093n/an/a10.1002/mame.202300309Widening the Application Range of PLA‐Based Thermoplastic Materials through the Synthesis of PLA‐Polyether Block Copolymers: Thermal, Tensile, and Rheological PropertiesBenjamín Rodríguez Hernández0Antje Lieske1Department of Polymer Synthesis Fraunhofer Institut für Angewandte Polymerforschung (IAP) Geiselbergstraße 69 14476 Potsdam GermanyDepartment of Polymer Synthesis Fraunhofer Institut für Angewandte Polymerforschung (IAP) Geiselbergstraße 69 14476 Potsdam GermanyAbstract Polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene glycol (PPG), and poly(ethylene glycol‐co‐propylene glycol) (PEPG) of number average molar masses (Mn) of 6–20 kDa are used as macroinitiators in the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of l‐lactide to synthesize high molar mass (50 kDa < MnCopo < 120 kDa) PLLA‐b‐polyether‐b‐PLLA linear triblock and starblock copolymers. At the studied block lengths, PEG and PEPG blocks exhibit miscibility with the PLLA blocks in the amorphous domains leading to a plasticization effect. As the PEG or PEPG block content is increased to 18 %wt, the Tg (Tg ≈ 24 °C) and the elastic modulus (E ≈ 500 MPa) are reduced, while the elongation at break (εb ≈ 280%) and crystallization rate are increased. At the same time, small angle oscillatory shear (SAOS) rheometric measurements show that the plasticized copolymers have a reduced melt viscosity. In contrast, SAOS and DSC measurements of the PPG‐containing block copolymers reveal phase separation of the PPG and PLA blocks leading to microstructures in the melt. Tensile tests show that the phase‐separated PPG‐containing block copolymers are more ductile than PLA homopolymers, but more brittle than the PEG‐ or PEPG‐plasticized block copolymers.https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202300309mechanical propertiesplasticized PLA block copolymerspolyetherrheological propertiessynthesisthermal properties |
| spellingShingle | Benjamín Rodríguez Hernández Antje Lieske Widening the Application Range of PLA‐Based Thermoplastic Materials through the Synthesis of PLA‐Polyether Block Copolymers: Thermal, Tensile, and Rheological Properties Macromolecular Materials and Engineering mechanical properties plasticized PLA block copolymers polyether rheological properties synthesis thermal properties |
| title | Widening the Application Range of PLA‐Based Thermoplastic Materials through the Synthesis of PLA‐Polyether Block Copolymers: Thermal, Tensile, and Rheological Properties |
| title_full | Widening the Application Range of PLA‐Based Thermoplastic Materials through the Synthesis of PLA‐Polyether Block Copolymers: Thermal, Tensile, and Rheological Properties |
| title_fullStr | Widening the Application Range of PLA‐Based Thermoplastic Materials through the Synthesis of PLA‐Polyether Block Copolymers: Thermal, Tensile, and Rheological Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Widening the Application Range of PLA‐Based Thermoplastic Materials through the Synthesis of PLA‐Polyether Block Copolymers: Thermal, Tensile, and Rheological Properties |
| title_short | Widening the Application Range of PLA‐Based Thermoplastic Materials through the Synthesis of PLA‐Polyether Block Copolymers: Thermal, Tensile, and Rheological Properties |
| title_sort | widening the application range of pla based thermoplastic materials through the synthesis of pla polyether block copolymers thermal tensile and rheological properties |
| topic | mechanical properties plasticized PLA block copolymers polyether rheological properties synthesis thermal properties |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202300309 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benjaminrodriguezhernandez wideningtheapplicationrangeofplabasedthermoplasticmaterialsthroughthesynthesisofplapolyetherblockcopolymersthermaltensileandrheologicalproperties AT antjelieske wideningtheapplicationrangeofplabasedthermoplasticmaterialsthroughthesynthesisofplapolyetherblockcopolymersthermaltensileandrheologicalproperties |