An assessment on morphological and thermal properties of the poly (lactic acid)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) films with chain extender

The effect of chain extender (CE) on improving compatibility, microstructure, thermal stability, melt and cold crystallization behavior of Poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends are investigated using solvent casting method. Morphological observations (SEM) showed a core-shell structure, that PBAT particles act as a nucleating agent for PLA matrix, but it is also possible to form a fibrillar structure. By adding a CE, the compatibility of PLA and PBAT improves, and by reducing the Interfacial tension due to the formation of PLA-CO-PBAT, the refinement of the dispersed phase can be explained.