Supertoughened Polylactic Acid/Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate Blends Compatibilized with Ethylene-Methyl Acrylate-Glycidyl Methacrylate: Morphology and Mechanical Properties by the Response Surface Methodology

Optimized extrusion melt-blending of polylactic acid (PLA) polymer with a minor biopolymeric phase, polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), and compatibilized with random ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer (EMA-GMA, Trademark: Lotader AX-8900) led to an outstanding improvement in mechanical properties. At the noncompatibilized PLA-PBAT (80-20) blend point, significant enhancement (∼4500%) in toughness and elongation-at-break was already obtained without compromising any elastic properties. The effect of the compatibilizer content on the mechanical properties of the PLA-PBAT (80-20) blend was investigated by an optimal custom response surface methodology. Thus, 2 wt % Lotader content was determined to be optimal by a numerical optimization methodology with a desirability value,