China Plastics ›› 2017, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (12): 39-45.DOI: 10.19491/j.issn.1001-9278.2017.12.007

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Properties and Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Poly(propylene carbonate) and Poly(lactic acid) Blends

  

  • Received:2017-07-13 Revised:2017-08-10 Online:2017-12-26 Published:2017-12-29

Abstract: Blends of poly(propylene carbonate)(PPC) and poly(lactic acid)(PLA) were prepared by a solution-casting method, and their properties were investigated by mechanical property test, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and thermal degradation kinetics. The kinetic data were also analyzed by CoatsRedfern method. Tensile testing results indicated that the tensile strength of PPC was improved with the addition of PLA, whereas its elongation at break decreased. TGA results indicated that the thermal stability of PPC could be enhanced by addition of PLA. The characteristic temperature of PPC corresponding to 10 % weight loss was improved from 255 ℃ to 281 ℃ in the presence of PLA at a mass fraction from 10 wt % to 90 wt %, and its characteristic temperature corresponding to the maximum weight loss rate increased by 3.45, 15.51 and 41.58 ℃ at the PPC/PLA mass ratios of 90/10, 50/50 and 10/90, respectively. Coats-Redfern analysis indicated that the activation energy of PPC was improved by 12.72 % and 40.68 % when 12.72 wt % and 40.68 wt % of PLA were incorporated, respectively. This implicates an improvement in thermal stability of PPC by PLA.