Effect of the molecular architecture of poly(ε-caprolactone-b-ethylene glycol) multiblock copolymers on the compatibilization and interfacial properties of biodegradable blends of poly(lactic acid) and poly(e-caprolactone)

• Grant number: 18/23542-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Aparecido Chinelatto
• Grantee: Marcelo Aparecido Chinelatto
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Polymer blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(E-caprolactone) have drawn scientific and technological interest, since they are composed of two biodegradable and biocompatible polyesters, whose mechanical behavior of pure components can be considered complementary. However, PLA/PCL blends are immiscible and the low interfacial adhesion between the phases provides poor mechanical properties. Multiblock copolymers derived from µ-caprolactone and ethylene glycol show high potential as compatibilizers of immiscible PLA/PCL blends, since each of its blocks shows preferential affinity for one of the present phases. However, such affinity does not guarantee reductions in the interfacial tension between the phases. The complete understanding of the compatibilization effect of those copolymers is complex and highly dependent on their molecular architecture. Therefore, this project aims at investigating the effect of the molecular architecture of poly (E-caprolactone-b-ethylene glycol) multiblock copolymers on the compatibilization and interfacial properties of PLA/PCL blends. Multiblock copolymers derived from µ-caprolactone and ethylene glycol will be synthesized via a condensation reaction. The preparation and characterization of binary and ternary blends will enable the establishment of a correlation between the molecular architecture of the copolymers and the interfacial tension between the phases and the mechanical and thermal properties of the blends towards the development of fully biodegradable and high-mechanical-performance materials. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

STAFFA, LUCAS H.; BETTINI, SILVIA H. P.; CHINELATTO, MARCELO A.. Synthesis of Poly(ether-ester-urethane) with a Controlled Molar Mass Based on Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and Poly(ethylene glycol) Segments. MACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA, v. 394, n. 1, p. 8-pg., 2020-12-01. (18/23542-7)

DIAS, PAULA DO PATROCINIO; CHINELATTO, MARCELO APARECIDO. Oven-Drying Microfibrillated Cellulose Covered with a Low Molecular Weight Copolymer for Dispersion in a Polymer Matrix. MACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA, v. 406, n. 1, p. 9-pg., 2022-12-01. (18/23542-7)

STAFFA, LUCAS HENRIQUE; HUYSECOM, AN-SOFIE; PRADO BETTINI, SILVIA HELENA; MOLDENAERS, PAULA; CHINELATTO, MARCELO APARECIDO. Effect of molecular structure of PEG/PCL multiblock copolymers on the morphology and interfacial properties of PLA/PCL blends. JOURNAL OF POLYMER RESEARCH, v. 29, n. 9, p. 14-pg., 2022-09-01. (18/23542-7)

STAFFA, LUCAS H. H.; BETTINI, SILVIA H. P.; CHINELATTO, MARCELO A. A.. Mechanical Properties of PLA/PCL Blends Compatibilized with PEG-b-PCL Multiblock Copolymer. MACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA, v. 406, n. 1, p. 7-pg., 2022-12-01. (18/23542-7)