Development and thermal, rheological, and mechanical characterization of PLA/ABS blends

• Grant number: 18/11511-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: July 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Juliano Marini
• Grantee: Letícia Casagrande Pires
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In recent years, the development of biodegradable polymer materials and/or obtained from renewable sources has become a major focus of research in the packaging and biomedical areas. In this context, it has to be highlighted the use of poly(lactic acid), PLA, a biodegradable and biocompatible thermoplastic obtained from renewable sources and with similar properties when compared with petroleum-based polymers. One of the main disadvantages of this polymer is its inherent brittleness. Its toughening can be accomplished through the inclusion of elastomers or thermoplastic elastomers, obtaining polymer blends. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) terpolymers are excellent candidates for toughening agents in PLA blends as they exhibit a combination of high elasticity and ductility with biocompatibility and processability. This research project proposes to develop toughened PLA/ABS blends with different contents of the constituent materials by melt mixing. The methodology includes the characterization of the thermal, rheological, and mechanical behaviors and the morphology of the obtained blends. The results will be evaluated and correlated in terms of structure, properties, and processing. (AU)