Log in

Mechanical properties, miscibility, thermal stability, and rheology of poly(propylene carbonate) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) blends

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polymer Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biodegradable polymeric blends are expected to be widely used by industry due to their environmental friendliness and comparable mechanical and thermal properties. In this study, blends of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) were prepared. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed that there were some possible specific interactions between PPC and EVA. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results showed a single temperature peak of T g between that of pure PPC and that of pure EVA, which suggested that PPC and EVA were compatible. Because of the interfacial interaction between PPC and EVA, EVA could greatly improve the tensile strength, the glass transition temperature and the thermal stability of PPC matrix. Rheological investigation demonstrated that there was a significantly dependence of viscosity on composition. When the EVA content increased, the viscosity began to increase. The PPC/EVA blends could be used as a common biodegradable material for a wide application.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Scheme 1
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wang N, Zhang XX, Yu JG, Fang JM (2008) Partially miscible poly(lactic acid)- blend-poly(propylene carbonate) filled with carbon black as conductive polymer composite. Polym Int 57:1027–1035

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Tao J, Song CJ, Cao MF, Hu D, Liu L, Liu N (2009) Thermal properties and degradability of poly(propylene carbonate)/poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate- co-beta-hydroxyvalerate) (PPC/PHBV) blends. Polym Degrad Stab 94:575–583

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Li J, Sun CR, Zhang XQ (2012) Preparation, thermal properties, and morphology of graft copolymers in reactive blends of PHBV and PPC. Polym Compos 33:1737–1749

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Yao M, Deng H, Mai F, Wang K, Zhang Q, Chen F (2011) Modification of poly(lactic acid)/poly(propylene carbonate) blends through melt compounding with maleic anhydride. EXPRESS Polym Lett 5:937–949

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen LJ, Qin YS, Wang XH, Zhao XJ, Wang FS (2011) Plasticizing while toughening and reinforcing poly(propylene carbonate) using low molecular weight urethane: role of hydrogen-bonding interaction. Polymer 52:4873–4880

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Jiao J, Wang SJ, **ao M, Xu Y, Meng YZ (2007) Processability, property, and morphology of biodegradable blends of poly(propylene carbonate) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol). Polym Eng Sci 47:174–180

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Zeng SS, Wang SJ, **ao M, Han DM, Meng YZ (2011) Preparation and properties of biodegradable blend containing poly (propylene carbonate) and starch acetate with different degrees of substitution. Carbohyd Polym 86:1260–1265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. **ng CY, Wang HT, Hu QQ, Xu FF, Cao XJ, You JC (2013) Mechanical and thermal properties of eco-friendly poly(propylene carbonate)/cellulose acetate butyrate blends. Carbohyd Polym 92:1921–1927

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Chen LJ, Qin YS, Wang XH, Li YS, Zhao XJ, Wang FS (2011) Toughening of poly(propylene carbonate) by hyperbranched poly(ester-amide) via hydrogen bonding interaction. Polym Int 60:1697–1704

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Yang DZ, Hu P (2008) Miscibility, crystallization, and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(propylene carbonate) biodegradable blends. J Appl Polym Sci 109:1635–1642

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Peng SW, An YX, Cheng C, Fei B, Zhuang YG, Dong LS (2003) Miscibility and crystallization behavior of poly(3-hydroxyvalerate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/poly(propylene carbonate) blends. J Appl Polym Sci 90:4054–4060

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chen X, Wang SJ, **ao M, Han DM, Meng YZ (2011) Miscibility, properties and morphology of biodegradable blends of UHMW-PPC/PVA/EVOH. J Polym Res 18:715–720

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Pang MZ, Qiao JJ, Jiao J, Wang SJ, **ao M, Meng YZ (2008) Miscibility and properties of completely biodegradable blends of poly(propylene carbonate) and poly(butylene succinate). J Appl Polym Sci 107:2854–2860

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang XL, Du FG, Jiao J, Meng YZ, Li Y (2007) Preparation and properties of biodegradable polymeric blends from poly(propylene carbonate) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol). J Biomed Mater Res Part B Appl Biomater 83B:373–379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gao J, Bai H, Zhang Q, Gao Y, Chen L, Fu Q (2012) Effect of homopolymer poly(vinyl acetate) on compatibility and mechanical properties of poly(propylene carbonate)/poly(lactic acid) blends. EXPRESS Polym Lett 6:860–870

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wang XY, Peng SW, Dong LS (2005) Effect of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) on thermal behavior and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(propylene carbonate) (PHB/PPC) blends. Colloid Polym Sci 284:167–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Li YJ, Shimizu H (2009) Compatibilization by homopolymer: significant improvements in the modulus and tensile strength of PPC/PMMA blends by the addition of a small amount of PVAc. Acs Appl Mater Inter 1:1650–1655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ma XF, Chang PR, Yu JG, Wang N (2008) Preparation and properties of biodegradable poly(propylene carbonate)/thermoplastic dried starch composites. Carbohyd Polym 71:229–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Zhang ZH, Lee JH, Lee SH, Heo SB, Pittman CU (2008) Morphology, thermal stability and rheology of poly(propylene carbonate)/organoclay nanocomposites with different pillaring agents. Polymer 49:2947–2956

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Zhang HL, Sun XH, Chen QY, Ren MQ, Zhang ZH, Zhang HF, Mo ZS (2007) Miscibility, crystallization and mechanical properties of PPC/PBS blends. Chin J Polym Sci 25:589–597

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Hao YP, Ge HH, Han LJ, Liang HY, Zhang HL, Dong LS (2013) Thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of poly(propylene carbonate) cross-linked with polyaryl polymethylene isocyanate. Polym Bull 70:1991–2003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Wu DD, Li W, Liang HY, Liu SR, Fang JY, Zhang HL, Zhang HX, Dong LS (2014) Thermal, mechanical and rheological properties of eco-friendly poly(propylene carbonate)/poly(1,2-propylene succinate) blends. Chin J Polym Sci 32:914–922

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ma P, Hristova-Bogaerds DG, Goossens JGP, Spoelstra AB, Zhang Y, Lemstra PJ (2012) Toughening of poly(lactic acid) by ethylene-co-vinyl acetate copolymer with different vinyl acetate contents. Eur Polym J 48:146–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Sonia A, Dasan KP (2014) Barrier properties of celluloses microfibers (CMF)/ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA)/composites. Compos Interface 21:233–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Peng SW, Wang XY, Dong LS (2005) Special interaction between poly (propylene carbonate) and corn starch. Polym Compos 26:37–41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhang JM, Sato H, Tsuji H, Noda I, Ozaki Y (2005) Differences in the CH3 center dot center dot center dot O=C interactions among poly(L-lactide), poly(L-lactide)/poly(D-lactide) stereocomplex, and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) studied by infrared spectroscopy. J Mol Struct 735:249–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Zhang JM, Sato H, Tsuji H, Noda I, Ozaki Y (2005) Infrared spectroscopic study of CH3 center dot center dot center dot O=C interaction during poly(L-lactide)/poly(D-lactide) stereocomplex formation. Macromolecules 38:1822–1828

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Nijenhuis AJ, Colstee E, Grijpma DW, Pennings AJ (1996) High molecular weight poly(L-lactide) and poly(ethylene oxide) blends: thermal characterization and physical properties. Polymer 37:5849–5857

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Lu XL, Zhu Q, Meng YZ (2005) Kinetic analysis of thermal decomposition of poly(propylene carbonate). Polym Degrad Stab 89:282–288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Ma XF, Yu JG, Wang N (2006) Compatibility characterization of poly(lactic acid)/poly(propylene carbonate) blends. J Polym Sci, Part B: Polym Phys 44:94–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Ma XF, Yu JG, Zhao A (2006) Properties of biodegradable poly(propylene carbonate)/starch composites with succinic anhydride. Compos Sci Technol 66:2360–2366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Neppalli R, Causin V, Marigo A, Meincken M, Hartmann P, van Reenen AJ (2013) Effect of electrospun ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) fibres on the structure, morphology, and properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Polymer 54:5909–5919

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the fund of Science & Technology Bureau of Jilin Province of China (No. 20126023), the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (No. 2012AA062904) and the National Science Foundation of China (51021003).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Huiliang Zhang or Lisong Dong.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wu, D., Li, W., Hao, Y. et al. Mechanical properties, miscibility, thermal stability, and rheology of poly(propylene carbonate) and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) blends. Polym. Bull. 72, 851–865 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-015-1310-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-015-1310-y

Keywords

Navigation