Thermal and mechanical properties of highly flexible poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide) bioplastics: Effects of poly(ethylene glycol) block length and chain extender

The brittleness of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) bioplastic is the main disadvantage for practical applications. Herein, we report the synthesis of high-molecular-weight PLLA-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-PLLA (PLLA-PEG-PLLA) block copolymers by ring-opening polymerization of LLA. The highly flexible PLLA-PEG-PLLAs were prepared by reactive melt blending with an epoxy-based chain extender formed as long-chain branched structures. The effects of PEG block length and content of chain extender were investigated. The results showed that the chain extension reaction reduced crystallinities of the PLLA-PEG-PLLAs. All the chain-extended PLLA-PEG-PLLA films had no phase separation. The lower crystallinities of PLLA-PEG-PLLA films obtained with higher contents of chain extender enhanced the film drawability. The longer PEG block length resulted in higher strain at break and lower stress at the break of PLLA-PEG-PLLA films. These chain-extended PLLA-PEG-PLLAs have potential for use as highly flexible bioplastics.