Miscibility and properties of linear poly(l-lactide)/branched poly(l-lactide) copolyester blends

Abstract Polymer blends consisting of linear poly( l -lactide) (PLLA) and different proportions of dendritic PLLA-based copolyesters ( hb -PLLA) characterized by different degrees of branching (DB) were obtained in melt. The solid-state properties of poly( l -lactide)s and their blends were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and stress–strain measurements. DSC and DMA methods proved miscibility of PLLA/ hb -PLLA blends for the studied composition range. AFM indicated that no phase separation occurs in PLLA/ hb -PLLA blends and that PLLA and hb -PLLA cocrystallize in one single lamellae type. The mechanica…