Combined effect of copolymers and of the mixing sequence on the rheological properties and morphology of poly(lactic acid) matrix blends

Abstract In this work, the combined effect of polyethylene grafted with acrylic acid (PEgAA) and Ethylene-Glycidyl Methacrylate (EGMA) or Ethylene-Methyl Acrylate – Glycidyl Methacrylate (EMA-GMA) copolymer and of the mixing sequence of these copolymers on the rheological properties and morphology of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) matrix blends was investigated. From torque rheometry analysis it was observed that PEgAA is more reactive with EGMA than with EMA-GMA. The reactivity between PEgAA and EGMA or EMA-GMA increased with the increase in temperature. The mixing sequence affected the rheological properties and morphology of PLA/EGMA/PEgAA and PLA/EMA-GMA/PEgAA blends. The blends containing EMA-GMA copolymer showed higher impact strength than the ones containing EGMA copolymer.