China Plastics ›› 2018, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (05): 109-115.DOI: 10.19491/j.issn.1001-9278.2018.05.017

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Applications of Trifunctional Epoxy Resin as Crosslinking Agent for PLA Extrusion Foaming

  

  • Received:2017-12-02 Revised:2018-01-10 Online:2018-05-26 Published:2018-05-25
  • Supported by:
    Shenzhen Science and Technology Foundation Research Grant

Abstract: A trifunctional epoxy resin was used as crosslinking agent for the chemical foaming and extrusion process of poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The effects of content of trifunctional epoxy resin on the melting and crystallization behavior, crosslinking degree and melt strength of PLA were investigated, and the cellular morphology of PLA foams was studied. The results indicated that the cold crystallization temperature increased with an increase of the content of trifunctional epoxy resin, and the presence of trifunctional epoxy resin also resulted in the appearance of multiple melting peaks. The crystallization and melting enthalpies and degree of crystallinity of PLA foams exhibited an increasing trend and then decreased with increasing the content of trifunctional epoxy resin. The degree crosslinking was found to increase with an increase of the content of trifunctional epoxy resin. The melt strength of PLA increased significantly with increasing the content of trifunctional epoxy resin. The incorporation of trifunctional epoxy resin also led to a decrease in void fraction and open cell, and however the cell size presented a decrease at first and an increase afterwards. The optimum temperature of extruder head was 170~175 ℃.