Barrier Properties of Semicrystalline Polylactide: The Role of the Density of the Amorphous Regions

The work explains the mechanism of improvement oxygen barrier performance cold-crystalized polylactide (PLA) modified with low molecular weight compounds (triethyl citrate, TEC; glycerol, Gly; and polyethylene glycol, PEG). It was found that incorporation small amounts modifier (0.5–1.5 wt %) into PLA matrix greatly reduces transport properties. On other hand, a further increase in content blends led to deterioration these Based on thermal analysis, it shown present did not affect degree crystallinity. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) density measurements were used correlate observed changes parameters permeability packing interlamellar amorphous region. Overall, nanostructure phase, largely dependent compatibility polymer matrix, is key importance properties PLA/modifier systems.