Reactive Mixing and Mechanical Property of Poly(lactic acid)/Epoxidized Natural Rubber Blend

Abstract

Blends of poly(lactic acid)(PLA) and liquid epoxidized natural rubber (LENR) or liquid epoxidized deproteinized natural rubber (LEDPNR) were prepared by mixing and subsequent annealing at 200°C for 20 min. The conversion of LEDPNR and PLA was 23.4%, whereas that between ENR and PLA was just 5.8%. The stress at break of LEDPNR/PLA blend after annealing at 200°C was higher than that prepared without annealing. This may be attributed to chemical bonds between PLA and ENR, and a changes in morphology of the PLA/LEDPNR blend.