Effect of polyethylene glycol on the crystallization, rheology and foamability of poly(lactic acid) containing in situ generated polyamide 6 nanofibrils

Abstract

In this study, the rheological properties, crystallization and foaming behavior of poly(lactic acid) with polyamide 6 nanofibrils were examined with polyethylene glycol as a compatibilizer. Polyamide 6 particles were deformed into nanofibrils during drawing. For the 10% polyamide 6 case, polyethylene glycol addition reduced the polyamide 6 fibril diameter from 365.53 to 254.63 nm, owing to the smaller polyamide 6 particle size and enhanced interface adhesion. Rheological experiments revealed that the viscosity and storage modulus of the composites were increased, which was associated with the three-dimensional entangled network of polyamide 6 nanofibrils. The presence of higher aspect ratio polyamide 6 nanofibrils substantially enhanced the melt strength of the composites. The isothermal crystallization kinetics results suggested that the polyamide 6 nanofibrils and polyethylene glycol had a synergistic effect on accelerating poly(lactic acid) crystallization. With the polyethylene glycol, the crystallization half-time reduced from 103.6 to 62.2 s. Batch foaming results indicated that owing to higher cell nucleation efficiency, the existence of polyamide 6 nanofibrils led to a higher cell density and lower expansion ratio. Furthermore, the poly(lactic acid)/polyamide 6 foams exhibited a higher cell density and expansion ratio than that of the foams without polyethylene glycol.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

poly(lactic acid) / foaming / microfibrillation / rheological property / crystallization

References

[1] Batool M, Abid A, Khurshid S, Bashir T, Ismail M A, Razaq M A, jamil M, jamil M. Quality control of nano-food packing material for grapes (Vitis vinifera) based on ZnO and polylactic acid (PLA) biofilm. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2022, 47(1): 319–331

[2] Karakurt I, Ozaltin K, Pištěková H, Vesela D, Michael-Lindhard J, Humpolícek P, Mozetič M, Lehocky M. Effect of saccharides coating on antibacterial potential and drug loading and releasing capability of plasma treated polylactic acid films. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022, 23(15): 8821

[3] Ledda M, Merco M, Sciortino A, Scatena E, Convertino A, Lisi A, Del Gaudio C. Biological response to bioinspired microporous 3D-printed scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022, 23(10): 5383

[4] Jalali A, Romero-Diez S, Nofar M, Park C B. Entirely environment-friendly polylactide composites with outstanding heat resistance and superior mechanical performance fabricated by spunbond technology: exploring the role of nanofibrillated stereocomplex polylactide crystals. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021, 193: 2210–2220

[5] Atalay S E, Bezci B, Özdemir B, Göksu Y A, Ghanbari A, Jalali A, Nofar M. Thermal and environmentally induced degradation behaviors of amorphous and semicrystalline plas through rheological analysis. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 2021, 29(10): 3412–3426

[6] Zhou H, Zhao M, Qu Z, Mi J, Wang X, Deng Y. Thermal and rheological properties of poly(lactic acid)/low-density polyethylene blends and their supercritical CO₂ foaming behavior. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 2018, 26(9): 3564–3573

[7] Nofar M, Tabatabaei A, Park C B. Effects of nano/micro-sized additives on the crystallization behaviors of PLA and PLA/CO₂ mixtures. Polymer, 2013, 54(9): 2382–2391

[8] Kuang T R, Mi H Y, Fu D J, Jing X, Chen B Y, Mou W J, Peng X F. Fabrication of poly(lactic acid)/graphene oxide foams with highly oriented and elongated cell structure via unidirectional foaming using supercritical carbon dioxide. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2015, 54(2): 758–768

[9] Corre Y M, Maazouz A, Duchet J, Reignier J. Batch foaming of chain extended PLA with supercritical CO₂: influence of the rheological properties and the process parameters on the cellular structure. Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2011, 58(1): 177–188

[10] Jalali A, Huneault M A, Nofar M, Lee P C, Park C B. Effect of branching on flow-induced crystallization of poly(lactic acid). European Polymer Journal, 2019, 119: 410–420

[11] Di Y W, Iannace S, Maio E D, Nicolais L. Poly(lactic acid)/organoclay nanocomposites: thermal, rheological properties and foam processing. Journal of Polymer Science. Part B, Polymer Physics, 2005, 43(6): 689–698

[12] Wang X D, Zhou H F, Liu B G, Du Z J, Li H Q. Chain extension and foaming behavior of poly(lactic acid) by functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and chain extender. Advances in Polymer Technology, 2014, 33(S1): 21444

[13] Nofar M, Salehiyan R, Ciftci U, Jalali A, Durmus A. Ductility improvements of PLA-based binary and ternary blends with controlled morphology using PBAT, PBSA, and nanoclay. Composites. Part B, Engineering, 2020, 182: 107661

[14] Lee R E, Azdast T, Wang G, Wang X, Lee P C. Highly expanded fine-cell foam of polylactide/polyhydroxyalkanoate/nano-fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene composites blown with mold-opening injection molding. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020, 155: 286–292

[15] Xu D F, Yu K J, Qian K, Park C B. Foaming behavior of microcellular poly(lactic acid)/TPU composites in supercritical CO₂. Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 2018, 31(1): 61–78

[16] Nofar M, Yenigul B S, Ozdemir B, Kovanci C Y, Jalali A. Mechanical and viscoelastic properties of polyethylene-based microfibrillated composites from 100% recycled resources. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2021, 138(32): e50793

[17] Yang J N, Nie S B, Qiao Y H, Liu Y, Cheng G J. Crystallization and rheological properties of the eco-friendly composites based on poly(lactic acid) and precipitated barium sulfate. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 2019, 27(12): 2739–2755

[18] Qiao Y H, Jalali A, Yang J, Chen Y, Wang S, Jiang Y, Hou J, Jiang J, Li Q, Park C B. Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene/polytetrafluoroethylene fibrillated composites. Journal of Materials Science, 2021, 56(4): 3562–3575

[19] Jalali A, Kim J H, Zolali A M, Soltani I, Nofar M, Behzadfar E, Park C B. Peculiar crystallization and viscoelastic properties of polylactide/polytetrafluoroethylene composites induced by in-situ formed 3D nanofiber network. Composites. Part B, Engineering, 2020, 200: 108361

[20] Huang A, Peng X F, Turng L S. In-situ fibrillated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) via melt blending: effect on rheological behavior, mechanical properties, and microcellular foamability. Polymer, 2018, 134: 263–274

[21] Zhao J, Zhao Q, Wang C, Guo B, Park C B, Wang G. High thermal insulation and compressive strength polypropylene foams fabricated by high-pressure foam injection molding and mold opening of nano-fibrillar composites. Materials & Design, 2017, 131: 1–11

[22] Chai J, Wang G, Zhang A, Li S, Zhao J, Zhao G, Park C B. Ultra-ductile and strong in-situ fibrillated PLA/PTFE nanocomposites with outstanding heat resistance derived by CO₂ treatment. Composites. Part A, Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2022, 155: 106849

[23] Huang A, Kharbas H, Ellingham T, Mi H, Turng L S, Peng X. Mechanical properties, crystallization characteristics, and foaming behavior of polytetrafluoroethylene-reinforced poly(lactic acid) composites. Polymer Engineering and Science, 2017, 57(5): 570–580

[24] Yokohara T, Nobukawa S, Yamaguchi M. Rheological properties of polymer composites with flexible fine fibers. Journal of Rheology, 2011, 55(6): 1205–1218

[25] Shahnooshi M, Javadi A, Nazockdast H, Altstadt V. Development of in situ nanofibrillar poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene terephthalate) composites: non-isothermal crystallization and crystal morphology. European Polymer Journal, 2020, 125: UNSP 109489

[26] Kakroodi A R, Kazemi Y, Nofar M, Park C B. Tailoring poly(lactic acid) for packaging applications via the production of fully bio-based in situ microfibrillar composite films. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2017, 308: 772–782

[27] Mao N D, Jeong H, Ngan Nguyen T K, Loan Nguyen T M, Vi Do T V, Ha Thuc C N, Perré P, Ko S C, Kim H G, Tran D T. Polyethylene glycol functionalized graphene oxide and its influences on properties of poly(lactic acid) biohybrid materials. Composites. Part B, Engineering, 2019, 161: 651–658

[28] Yi X, Xu L, Wang Y L, Zhong G J, Ji X, Li Z M. Morphology and properties of isotactic polypropylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) in situ microfibrillar reinforced blends: influence of viscosity ratio. European Polymer Journal, 2010, 46(4): 719–730

[29] Kuzmanović M, Delva L, Mi D, Martins C I, Cardon L, Ragaert K. Development of crystalline morphology and its relationship with mechanical properties of PP/PET microfibrillar composites containing POE and POE-g-MA. Polymers, 2018, 10(3): 291

[30] Jalali A, Huneault M A, Elkoun S. Effect of molecular weight on the nucleation efficiency of poly(lactic acid) crystalline phases. Journal of Polymer Research, 2017, 24(11): 182

[31] Zhang J M, Wang S W, Qiao Y H, Li Q. Effect of morphology designing on the structure and properties of PLA/PEG/ABS blends. Colloid & Polymer Science, 2016, 294(11): 1779–1787

[32] La M F P, Ceraulo M, Giacchi G, Mistretta M C, Botta L. Effect of a compatibilizer on the morphology and properties of polypropylene/polyethylentherephthalate spun fibers. Polymers, 2017, 9(2): 47

[33] Kulinski Z, Piorkowska E. Crystallization, structure and properties of plasticized poly(L-lactide). Polymer, 2005, 46(23): 10290–10300

[34] Ferrarezi M M F, de Oliveira Taipina M, Escobar da Silva L C E, Gonçalves M D. Poly(ethylene glycol) as a compatibilizer for poly(lactic acid)/thermoplastic starch blends. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 2013, 21(1): 151–159

[35] Trouton F T. On the coefficient of viscous traction and its relation to that of viscosity. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, 1906, 77(519): 426–440

[36] Bangarusampath D S, Ruckdäschel H, Altstädt V, Sandler J K W, Garray D, Shaffer M S P. Rheology and properties of melt-processed poly(ether ether ketone)/multi-wall carbon nanotube composites. Polymer, 2009, 50(24): 5803–5811

[37] Qiao Y H, Li Q, Jalali A, Yang J, Wang X, Zhao N, Jiang Y, Wang S, Hou J, Jiang J. In-situ microfibrillated poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(lactic acid) composites with enhanced rheological properties, crystallization kinetics and foaming ability. Composites. Part B, Engineering, 2021, 208: 108594

[38] Rizvi A, Park C B. Dispersed polypropylene fibrils improve the foaming ability of a polyethylene matrix. Polymer, 2014, 55(16): 4199–4205

[39] Jalali A, Shahbikian S, Huneault M A, Elkoun S. Effect of molecular weight on the shear-induced crystallization of poly(lactic acid). Polymer, 2017, 112: 393–401

[40] Jalali A, Huneault M A, Elkoun S. Effect of thermal history on nucleation and crystallization of poly(lactic acid). Journal of Materials Science, 2016, 51(16): 7768–7779

[41] Rizvi A, Park C B, Favis B D. Tuning viscoelastic and crystallization properties of polypropylene containing in-situ generated high aspect ratio polyethylene terephthalate fibrils. Polymer, 2015, 68: 83–91

[42] Avrami M. Kinetics of phase change. I. General theory. Journal of Chemical Physics, 1939, 7(12): 1103–1112

[43] Avrami M. Kinetics of phase change. II. Transformation-time relations for random distribution of nuclei. Journal of Chemical Physics, 1940, 8(2): 212–224

[44] Liu H, Huang Y, Yuan L, He P, Cai Z, Shen Y, Xu Y, Yu Y, Xiong H. Isothermal crystallization kinetics of modified bamboo cellulose/PCL composites. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2010, 79(3): 513–519

[45] Naguib H E, Park C B, Reichelt N. Fundamental foaming mechanisms governing the volume expansion of extruded polypropylene foams. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2004, 91(4): 2661–2668

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for support from the Key Scientific and Technological Projects of Henan Province (Grant Nos. 232102230153, 232102230158, and for international cooperation 232102521021), the National Natural Science Joint Fund of China (Grant No. U1909219), the Key R&D Project of Henan Province (Grant No. 221111520200), the Scientific and Technological Research Project of Henan Province (Grand No. 202102210028).

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at http://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-023-2342-8 and is accessible for authorized users.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2023 Higher Education Press