Effect of Plasticization/Annealing on Thermal, Dynamic Mechanical, and Rheological Properties of Poly(Lactic Acid).

This study investigates the use of low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a plasticizer for poly(lactic acid) (PLA). PLA/PEG blend films were prepared using the solvent casting method with varying mixing ratios. The films were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and dynamic rheological analysis.

Temperature Controlled Mechanical Reinforcement of Polyacrylate Films Containing Nematic Liquid Crystals.

This investigation reports on the thermomechanical properties of Poly-tripropyleneglycoldiacrylate (Poly-TPGDA)/liquid crystal (LC) blends, developed via free radical polymerization processes, which are induced by Electron Beam (EB) and Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The EB-cured Poly-TPGDA network exhibits a higher glass transition temperature (), a higher tensile storage, and Young moduli than the corresponding UV-cured sample, indicating a lower elasticity and a shorter distance between the two adjacent crosslinking points. Above of Poly-TPGDA/LC blends, the LC behaves as a plasticizing agent, whereas, for EB-cured networks, at temperatures below , the LC shows a strong temperature dependence on the storage tensile modulus: the LC reinforces the polymer due to the presence of nano-sized phase separated glassy LC domains, confirmed by electron microscopy observations.