Asian Journal of Scientific Research1992-14542077-2076Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ajsr.2018.364.375BaimarkYodthongSrisuwanYaowalak32018113Background and Objective: Bio-renewable and biodegradable stereo complex polylactides (scPLs) have widely investigated for use as high-performance bioplastic products. However, melt process ability and brittleness of the scPL were limited for this purpose. In this study, physicochemical and mechanical properties of scPL/poly(ε-caprolactone-co-L-lactide) copolyester blends with and without chain extension were determined. Materials and Methods: The scPL/copolyester blend pellets were prepared by in situ melt blending of poly(L-lactide), poly(D-lactide) and copolyester. The influences of the copolyester ratios (100/0, 90/10, 80/20 and 60/40 w/w) and chain extension on the characteristics of the scPL pellets, including stereo complex formation, thermal stability, melt flow index (MFI) and their film forming were determined. Properties of the compressed blend films were also investigated. Results: The copolyester blending enhanced the stereo complexation of the blend pellets. The MFI of the blend pellets increased with the copolyester ratio. The continuous and smooth blend films were successfully prepared using a compression molding technique when the copolyester ratio was increased up to 20% wt. The compression force also enhanced the stereo complexation of the blend films. The chain extension improved the phase compatibility of the scPL/copolyester blend films. The flexibility of the blend films slightly improved as the copolyester ratio increased. Conclusion: This study could provide a new insight into the synergistic effects of copolyester blending, chain extension and compression force for designing high-performance scPL products with controllable film forming and flexibility.]]>Garrison, T.F., A. Murawski and R.L. Quirino,2016Polymers, Vol. 8.2016Orezzoli, A.V., E. Zavaleta, N. Pajares-Medina, S. Adolfo, L. Lescano and G. Linares,2017Asian J. Sci. Res. (In Press).2017Tsuji, H. and I. Fukui,2003Polymer,4428912896Tsuji, H. and Y. Ikada,1999Polymer,4066996708Tsuji, H.,2000In vitro hydrolysis of blends from enantiomeric poly (lactide) s Part 1. Well-stereo-complexed blend and non-blended films.]]>Polymer,4136213630Anderson, K.S. and M.A. Hillmyer,2006Polymer,4720302035He, Y., Y. Xu, J. Wei, Z. Fan and S. Li,2008Polymer,4956705675Chen, D., J. Li and J. Ren,2011J. Polym. Environ.,19574581Tsuji, H.,2005Macromol. Biosci.,5569597Xu, H., S. Tang, J. Chen, P. Yin, W. Pu and Y. Lu,2012Polymer Bull.,6811351151Tomihata, K., M. Suzuki, T. Oka and Y. Ikada,1998Polymer Degrad. Stab.,591318Baimark, Y. and R. Molloy,2005Polym. Adv. Tech.,16332337Baimark, Y., R. Molloy, N. Molloy, J. Siripitayananon, W. Punyodom and M. Sriyai,2005J. Mater. Sci.: Mater. Med.,16699707Andjelic, S. and D.D. Jamiolkowski,2013Segmented, semicrystalline poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) absorbable copolymers.2013Baimark, Y. and P. Srihanam,2011Polym. Test.,455257Cao, Z.Q., X.R. Sun, R.Y. Bao, W. Yang, B.H. Xie and M.B. Yang,2016Eur. Polym. J.,834245Tsuji, H., F. Horii, S.H. Hyon and Y. Ikada,1991Macromolecules,2427192724Tsuji, H., S.H. Hyon and Y. Ikada,1991Macromolecules,2456575662Tsuji, H., S.H. Hyon and Y. Ikada,1991Macromolecules,2456515656Shibita, A., T. Shimasaki, N. Teramoto and M. Shibata,2015Polymer,745462Baimark, Y. and O. Cheerarot,2015Orient. J. Chem,31635641Cailloux, J., O.O.S. Perez, E.A.F. Urquiza, J.J. Bou, F. Carrasco, J.G. Perez and M.L. Maspoch,2013Express Polym. Lett.,7304718Song, Y., X. Zhang, Y. Yin, S. de Vos and R. Wang et al.,2015Polymer,72185192Andersson, S.R., M. Hakkarainen and A.C. Albertsson,2013Polymer,5441054111Bai, H., C. Huang, H. Xiu, Y. Gao, Q. Zhang and Q. Fu,2013Polymer,5452575266Randal, J.R., K. Cink and J.C. Smith,2009Branching polylactide by reacting OH or COOH polylactide with epoxide acrylate (co)polymer.2009Arruda, L.C., M. Magaton, R.E.S. Bretas and M.M. Ueki,2015Polym. Test.,432737Wang, S., S. Pang, N. Xu, L. Pan and Q. Lin,2016In situ compatibilization of polylactide/thermoplastic polyester elastomer blends using a multifunctional epoxide compound as a processing agent.]]>J. Applied Polym. Sci., Vol. 133.2016Zhang, W., S. Zheng and Q. Guo,2007J. Applied Polymer Sci.,106417424