Effect of the simultaneous biaxial stretching on the structural and mechanical properties of PLA, PBAT and their blends at rubbery state
Résumé
This works deals with the study of the strain-induced structural changes of PLA, PBAT and
their blends with/without multi-functional styrene-acrylic oligomers (Joncryl ADR-4368).
The films were prepared through a single-screw extrusion. Uni and bi-axially simultaneous
stretching, at a temperature above the glass transition temperature, were performed. The
experimental conditions were chosen so as not to generate significant thermal crystallization
during tests duration. Stretching induced semi-crystalline films with a supposed
in-plane mechanical isotropy. Their structural, morphological and thermo-mechanical
properties were characterized using dynamic mechanical and thermal analysis (DMTA),
differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), and
transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The strain-induced crystals of PLA combined
mesophase and alpha'-form crystals. Besides, the stretched PBAT was found to be composed
of mixed-crystal structure of BT and BA units in a PBT-like crystal form. The Joncryl addition
promoted significant changes on the crystallization kinetics of PLA without affecting
the crystallization kinetic of PBAT. In fact, Joncryl acted as a nucleating agent making thus
faster the thermal crystallisation of PLA. In parallel, the strain induced crystallisation in PLA
was accelerated and stresses increased. The same effect was still observed in the PLA_PBAT blends.