Adipate and Citrate Esters as Plasticizers for Poly(Lactic Acid)/Thermoplastic Starch Sheets

作者：Shirai Marianne Ayumi^*; Olivera Mueller Carmen Maria; Eiras Grossmann Maria Victoria; Yamashita Fabio

来源：Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 2015, 23(1): 54-61.

DOI：10.1007/s10924-014-0680-9

• Extrusion
• Calendering
• Mechanical properties
• Glass transition
• Crystallinity
• Biodegradable polymer

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) sheets plasticized with different adipate and citrate esters were produced by a calendering-extrusion process. The incorporation of plasticizers significantly reduced the glass transition temperature and increased the PLA chain mobility thus improving the mechanical properties. Among the plasticizers employed, diethyl adipate significantly increased the elongation of the sheets and slightly increased the water vapor permeability. Micrographs revealed the incompatibility between starch and PLA, and there was no plasticizer phase separation, suggesting that the plasticizer concentration was adequate. The incorporation of adipate or citrate esters improves the mechanical properties and processability of PLA/TPS sheets produced by calendering extrusion at a pilot scale.

• 出版日期2015-3