TPS/PE-MAH/CTS blends were successfully prepared by meltblending.Wettability,tensile
strength and elongation at break were
improved by the addition of CTS into the TPS/PE-MAH blend, in
particular at 5 wt% CTS. The TPS/PE-MAH/CTS blends exhibited a
co-continuous morphology and CTS-induced phase inversion had
occurred, resulting in small PE-MAH particles dispersed in a TPS
matrix. CTS decreased the Tm and increased the melt viscosity of
the TPS/PE-MAH/CTS5 blend due to the reaction-induced formation
of small crystals sizes of TPS and PE-MAH and an elongated
PE-MAH chain length with improved flexibility, respectively. FTIR
confirmed that a new biopolymer had formed by reaction of the
NH2 groups of CTS with the MAH groups of PE-MAH. The newly
formed amide bond between PE-MAH and CTS, and the miscibility
between TPS and CTS, directly improved the mechanical properties
of the TPS/PE-MAH/CTS5 blend. The results suggested that TPS/PEMAH/CTS
blend could possibly be applied as packaging materials,
and other organic compounds contained NH2 groups could be
used as compatibilizer.