Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is considered to be one of the most promising biodegradable materials in the family of aliphatic polyesters. PLA and its copolymers, such as poly(lactic acid)-co-(glycolic acid), are widely used as alternatives to petrochemical-based polymers and have been used as biomedical materials. PLA has the advantage that it is produced commercially by an efficient method at relatively low cost. However, there are some disadvantages to PLA. It is brittle and difficult to functionalize. Blending is an extremely promising approach to improve the properties of polymers.It is efficient and easy. Blends may exhibit the physical and chemical properties of both individual polymers. The advantages of the two components of the blend may produce a unique and/or superior material. The miscibility of the two polymers can be evaluated by the Tg method. Different chemical properties, such as optimum hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and the ability to act as a drug-carrier may be relatively easily achieved by functionalization of our recently synthesized brominated PLA copolymers, simultaneously with producing materials with good mechanical properties, by blending functionalized PLA with high molecular weight commercialized PLA. This study investigates the miscibility of brominated PLA with high molecular weight PLA as the first step. The influence of different blends ratios, molecular weights of PLA and configurations of PLA on the miscibility is studied.

Blends of high molecular weight poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with copolymers of 2-bromo-3-hydroxypropionic acid and lactic acid (PLB)

246th National Meeting (2013)

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