pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: G05 - Polymer blends and alloys
Poster Presentation
 
 

Property of Poly(L-Lactide) (PLLA) Plasticized with Low Molecular Weight Poly(Ethylene Glycol) (PEG)

Nimah Hikmatun (1)*, Prasetyarani Rieza Shafianisa (1), Widiasih Dian Amalia (1), Mayangsari Siska (1), Ilma Natasya Fitria (1), Rochmadi Rochmadi (2)

(1) Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember - East Java - Indonesia, (2) Gadjah Mada University - Central Java - Indonesia

Blends of poly(L-Lactide) (PLLA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were prepared through solvent blending and their properties were characterized in term of thermal properties, mechanical properties, crystallinity and morphology. Effects of molecular weight of PEG (200 and 400) and PEG content (5, 10, 15, 20 wt%) on the properties of the blends were investigated. FTIR analysis showed that the intensity of hydroxyl group increases with PEG content and the peak represent carbonyl group of PLLA shifts for the blend samples, indicating the interaction between PLLA and PEG. Thermal properties of the blends showed a decrease on the glass-transition temperature (Tg) and melting temperature (Tm) compared with those of pristine PLLA. The Tg and Tm of sample with PEG200 decreased greater than that of sample with PEG400. Based on the XRD analysis, the degree of crystallinity increased with the number of PEG added. The highest crystallinity was 42.54% for PLLA/PEG200 (80/20) film and 26.22% for the PLLA/PEG400 (80/20) film. SEM analysis results showed porous morphology in all area of the film after the addition of PEG. The pores in PLLA/PEG200 films are more obvious than those in PLLA/PEG400 films. The mechanical properties were evaluated in term of tensile strength, young modulus, and elongation at break by using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The DMA analysis found that PEG addition decreases the tensile strength and young modulus but increases the elongation at break of the films showing that the materials become softer and more flexible. The optimum value of elongation at break was 2.29% for the PLLA/PEG200 (80/20) film. Based on the results of morphology and mechanical properties observation and the nature of the polymer materials, blends of PLLA/PEG200 can be considered in biomedical application such as scaffold material.