GARCÍA, D.; CARRASCO, J.C.; SALAZAR, J.P.; PÉREZ, M.A.; CANCINO, R.; RIQUELME, S.:
Express Polymer Letters, 10, 835-848 (2016).
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2016.78
Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA) was melt-blended with Pinus radiata unmodified and modified (hydroxypropyled) bark polyflavonoids in order to use such polyphenolic building-blocks as functional additives for envisaged applications. Rheological, morphological, molecular, thermal, and flexural properties were studied. Polyflavonoids improved blend processability in terms of short-time mixing. Furthermore, hydroxypropylated polyflavonoids improve miscibility in binary and ternary blends. Blend-composition affects crystallization-, melting-, and glass transition-temperature of PLA, as well as thermal resistance, and flexural properties of the blends. Polyflavonoids induced PLA-crystallization, and polymer-chain decomposition. Modified and unmodified bark polyflavonoids from radiata pine can be used successfully in PLA-based green composites beyond the food-packaging applications. The high compatibility between PLA and hydroxypropyled polyflavonoids highlights the potential of such phenolic derivatives for PLA-based material design.