Compatibilization-like behavior of functionalized organoclay on poly(L-lactide)/poly(butylene succinate) blends

초록

The morphology of an incompatible polymer blend composed of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) was examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray scattering, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy before and after the incorporation of an organoclay containing reactive functional groups (TFC). When a small amount of TFC was incorporated into the PLLA/PBS blend, the clay layers became fully exfoliated and were located mainly in the PLLA phase. At low clay content, the dispersed phase had an almost constant domain size, which decreased sharply as the clay content was increased. The clay layers were dispersed not only in the PLLA phase but also in the PBS phase. The specific interaction between the TFC and the polymer matrix was quantified by the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter, B, which was determined by combining the melting point depression and the binary interaction model. The morphology of the PLLA/PBS/clay composites was analyzed by considering the interaction parameter.