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Polymer Alloys of Nodax Copolymers and Poly(lactic acid)

  1. Isao Noda*,
  2. Michael M. Satkowski,
  3. Anthony E. Dowrey,
  4. Curtis Marcott

Article first published online: 22 MAR 2004

DOI: 10.1002/mabi.200300093

Issue

Macromolecular Bioscience

Macromolecular Bioscience

Special Issue: Highlights from the First IUPAC International Conference on Bio-based Polymers (ICBP 2003) in Saitama, Japan

Volume 4, Issue 3, pages 269–275, March 15, 2004

Additional Information

How to Cite

Noda, I., Satkowski, M. M., Dowrey, A. E. and Marcott, C. (2004), Polymer Alloys of Nodax Copolymers and Poly(lactic acid). Macromol. Biosci., 4: 269–275. doi: 10.1002/mabi.200300093

Author Information

  1. The Procter and Gamble Company, Beckett Ridge Technical Center, 8611 Beckett Road, West Chester, OH 45069, USA

*The Procter and Gamble Company, Beckett Ridge Technical Center, 8611 Beckett Road, West Chester, OH 45069, USA. Fax: 001 513 634 9342

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 MAR 2004
  2. Article first published online: 22 MAR 2004
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 9 JAN 2004
  4. Manuscript Revised: 23 DEC 2003
  5. Manuscript Received: 7 NOV 2003

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Keywords:

  • biopolymers;
  • blends;
  • crystallization;
  • polyhydroxyalkanoates;
  • poly(lactic acid)

Abstract

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Summary: Properties of polymer alloys comprising poly(lactic acid) and Nodax copolymers are investigated. Nodax is a family of bacterially produced polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers comprising 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and other 3-hydroxyalkanoate (3HA) units with side groups greater than or equal to three carbon units. The incorporation of 3HA units with medium-chain-length (mcl) side groups effectively lowers the crystallinity and the melt temperature, Tm, of this class of PHA copolymers, in a manner similar to that of alpha olefins controlling the properties of linear low density polyethylene. The lower Tm makes the material easier to process, as the thermal decomposition temperature of PHAs is then relatively low. The reduced crystallinity provides the ductility and toughness required for many plastics applications. When a small amount of ductile PHA is blended with poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a new type of polymer alloy with much improved properties is created. The toughness of PLA is substantially increased without a reduction in the optical clarity of the blend. The synergy between the two materials, both produced from renewable resources, is attributed to the retardation of crystallization of PHA copolymers finely dispersed in a PLA matrix as discrete domains.

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