The grafting of maleic anhydride onto PLA and ENR to form PLA-graft-ENR for PLA/ENR blend.

Polylactic acid (PLA)-graft-Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR) was grafted using Maleic Anhydride (MA) as a grafting agent. Different concentrations of MA (5-20 phr) were used to prepare the PLA-graft-ENR (PLA-g-ENR) compatibilizer. Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) was used as an initiator to initiate radicals for the grafting process. The graft compatibilizer was analyzed qualitatively using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The grafting percentage of PLA-g-ENR was calculated quantitatively using the Soxhlet extraction method with different solvents to extract PLA and ENR separately. The concentration of 15phr MA achieved the highest grafting percentage and promoted higher compatibilization efficiency in PLA/ENR blend. FTIR results show a successful grafting reaction of MA between PLA and ENR via the presence of a succinic anhydride ring. PLA-g-ENR compatibilizer grafted with 15phr of MA was used to compatibilized PLA/ENR blend. The effect of compatibilizers loading on the mechanical properties of the PLA/ENR blend was investigated via a tensile test. The tensile properties of the PLA/ENR blend improved with PLA-g-ENR more than the non-compatibilized blend. The loading of PLA-g-ENR compatibilizer, 3wt%, is recommended for enhancing tensile characteristics, particularly break elongation, which is efficiently grafted employing 15phr MA as a grafting agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]