Cellulose acetate (CA) with a degree of substitution (DS) of 2.5 and polylactic acid (PLLA)
were plasticized by melt extrusion using triacetin. Blends of resulting thermoplastic materials
were then prepared and characterized by their tensile strength and differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC). Thermal analysis revealed the invariability of the PLLA glass
transition temperature in all blends, indicating that the compounds were immiscible.
Grafted D/L lactide to CA copolymers were prepared by reactive melt processing using CA
with different degree of substitution i.e. 2.1 and 2.5 and evaluated as CA/PLLA blend compatibilizer.
The compatibility of the blends was investigated by scanning electron microscopy
(SEM). Results showed that blend compatibility was improved evidencing the best
performance of grafted copolymers with long grafted chains as blend compatibilizer of
CA/PLLA blends. Finally, compatibilized blends compositions with enhanced ultimate elongation
were achieved by using plasticized PLLA instead of neat PLLA.