Asian Journal of Scientific Research1992-14542077-2076Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ajsr.2019.508.515b-poly(ethylene Glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide) Bioplastic]]>BaimarkYodthong PaseeSupasin RungseesantivanonWuttipong PrakymoramasNatcha 42019124Background and Objective: Poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) is a biodegradable bioplastic that has attracted much attention for use in biomedical and packaging applications. In this work, effect of chain extender on thermal and mechanical properties of injection-molded PLLA-b-poly (ethylene glycol)-b-PLLA triblock copolymer (PLLA-PEG-PLLA) and their comparison with the injection-molded PLLA were investigated. Materials and Methods: A flexible PLLA-PEG-PLLA was adjusted by changing its Melt Flow Index (MFI) by chain-extension reaction before injection molding. Differential scanning calorimeter was used to investigate the thermal properties. The mechanical properties of injection-molded PLLA and PLLA-PEG-PLLA were determined by universal testing machine for tensile and flexural properties, impact tester and hardness testers. One-way analysis of variance and Duncan’s multiple test (p<0.05) were used to assess data. Results: The addition of chain extender decreased the MFI of PLLA-PEG-PLLA. The chain-extended PLLA-PEG-PLLA exhibited faster crystallization and more hydrophilicity than the PLLA. Hydrophilicity of PLLA-PEG-PLLA increased with the chain-extender content. From tensile curves, the chain-extended PLLA-PEG-PLLA had a yield effect indicating they were flexible. Strain at break and impact strength of chain-extended PLLA-PEG-PLLA were higher than the PLLA while their flexural stress and hardness were lower. The crystallization behaviors and mechanical properties of PLLA-PEG-PLLA did not change with the chain-extender content. Conclusion: The injection-molded bioplastics with high flexibility and toughness could be fabricated from chain-extended PLLA-PEG-PLLA.]]>Jayanth, D., P.S. Kumar, G.C. Nayak, J.S. Kumar, S.K. Pal and R. Rajasekar,201826838865Hamad, K., M. Kaseem, M. Ayyoob, J. Joo and F. Deri,20188583127Si, W.J., X.P. An, J.B. Zeng, Y.K. Chen and Y.Z. Wang,2017via dynamic vulcanization with poly(D-lactide) and unsaturated bioelastomer.]]>6010081022Quiles-Carrillo, L., M.M. Blanes-Martinez, N. Montanes, O. Fenollar, S. Torres-Giner and R. Balart,201898402410Phromma, W. and R. Magaraphan,20182622682280Yun, X., X. Li, Y. Jin, W. Sun and T. Dong,2018L-lactic acid) by Incorporating with poly(ethylene glycol) as a Middle Block Chain.]]>60141155Baimark, Y., W. Rungseesantivanon and N. Prakymoramas,2018b-poly (ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide) by chain extension reaction for potential use as flexible bioplastics.]]>1547380Sungsanit, K., N. Kao and S.N. Bhattacharya,201252108116Li, F.J., L.C. Tan, S.D. Zhang and B. Zhu,20162016Carbonell-Verdu, A., D. Garcia-Garcia, F. Dominici, L. Torre, L. Sanchez-Nacher and R. Balart,201791248259Kulinski, Z., E. Piorkowska, K. Gadzinowska and M. Stasiak,2006721282135Li, D., Y. Jiang, S. Lv, X. Liu, J. Gu, Q. Chen and Y. Zhang,20182018Ma, P., T. Shen, L. Lin, W. Dong and M. Chen,2017g-poly(D-lactide) nanohybrids induced significant low melt viscosity and fast crystallization of fully bio-based nanocomposites.]]>155498506Broz, M.E., D.L. VanderHart and N.R. Washburn,20032441814190Shibata, M., Y. Inoue and M. Miyoshi,20064735573564Odent, J., J.M. Raquez, E. Duquesne and P. Dubois,201248331340Odent, J., P. Leclere, J.M. Raquez and P. Dubois,2013co-LA] random copolyesters as biodegradable impact modifiers.]]>49914922Srisuwan, Y., Y. Baimark and S. Suttiruengwong,2018co-L-lactide) in the presence of chain extender.]]>2018Wang, Y.P., X. Wei, J. Duan, J.H. Yang, N. Zhang, T. Huang and Y. Wang,201735386399Zhang, X., K.L. Singfield and H. Ye,20167334373451Murariu, M., Y. Paint, O. Murariu, J.M. Raquez, L. Bonnaud and P. Dubois,20152015Tuna, B. and G. Ozkoc,201725983993Li, H. and M.A. Huneault,20074868556866