pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S05 - Mixing and compounding
Oral Presentation
 
 

Influence of the degree of crystallinity and the surface free energy on the adhesion properties of different PLA/PBS blends in multicomponent injection molding

Guzel Kubra (1)*, Klute Marco (2), Kurgan Naci (1), Heim Ing. Hans-Peter (2)

(1) Ondokuz Mayis University - Izmir - Turkey, (2) Kassel University - Hessen - Germany

The climatic consequential losses of the utilization of raw resources such as oil, gas, coal influence the producers to use more renewable, environmental resources. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) are such biodegradable polymers that are getting ever-increasing attention due to their noteworthy mechanical and thermal properties. A series of PLA/PBS blends was compounded with the weight ratios of 50/50, 60/40, 70/30, 80/20, 90/10 by a twin-screw extruder (ZSE18 HPe, Leistritz Extrusionstechnik GmbH) and fabricated to tensile test specimen by using an injection molding machine (Allrounder 320 C Golden Edition, Arburg GmbH + Co KG). As the second component in the two-component injection molding process, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was injected onto the PLA/PBS blends. The change in the adhesive bonding strength between the two components was measured regarding the increase of PBS content in the PLA/PBS blends under the influence of time and temperature (storage at room temperature and 100 °C in the course of 1, 3, 7 and 14 day(s)). The adhesion properties of the PLA/PBS blends were examined with a contact angle measurement device (EasyDrop DSA 20B, Krüss GmbH) and FTIR/ATR (Shimadzu, IRAffinity -1S) measurements. A decrement in the surface free energy was observed (deterioration in the wetting behaviour) by the reason of the increase in the PBS content. This decrement led to a decrease in the interfacial tension between the blends and the TPU soft component which correlates to better bonding abilities. Microscopic investigation was executed to analyze the effect of the storage over the dispersion of the crystalline region. Moreover, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms of the blends displayed the effect of the increase in PBS content and the storage (at 100 °C in the course of 0, 3 and 14 days) on the degree of crystallization. The resistance to de-linking between the blends and TPU was measured by a universal testing machine (Z010, Zwick/Roell Prüftechnik GmbH). According to the results, the maximal load (630,32 N) was reached on the PLA/PBS blend with a weight ratio of 50/50 w% after the storage of 7 days at 100 °C. This result was associated with the low interfacial tension (2,08 mN/m) between the two surfaces and compared to the results of crystallinity (DSC) and ATR measurements.