Polylactide composites and methods of producing the same

Abstract

Embodiments of polylactide composites comprise a polylactide, a polymerized natural oil dispersed inside the polylactide, and a block copolymer configured to aid the dispersion of the polymerized natural oil inside the polylactide, wherein the polylactide composite defines a tensile toughness of from about 2 MPa to about 9 MPa.

1 . A polylactide composite comprising:
 a polylactide;   a polymerized natural oil dispersed inside the polylactide; and   a block copolymer configured to aid the dispersion of the polymerized natural oil inside the polylactide, wherein the polylactide composite defines a tensile toughness of from about 2 MPa to about 9 MPa.   
     
     
         2 . The polylactide composite of  claim 1  wherein the polymerized oil defines an average particle size of from about 0.2 μm to about 5 μm. 
     
     
         3 . The polylactide composite of  claim 1  wherein the polylactide comprises poly(L-lactide), its stereoisomers, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The polylactide composite of  claim 1  wherein the polylactide composite comprises about 80 to about 95% by wt polylactide, and about 5% to about 15% by wt. of polymerized natural oil. 
     
     
         5 . The polylactide composite of  claim 1  wherein the polymerized natural oil comprises soybean oil. 
     
     
         6 . The polylactide composite of  claim 1  wherein the polymerized natural oil is a modified polymerized natural oil. 
     
     
         7 . The polylactide composite of  claim 1  wherein the polymerized oil defines an average particle size of from about 0.2 μm to about 2.3 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The polylactide composite of  claim 1  wherein the polylactide composite defines a tensile toughness of from about 6 MPa to about 9 MPa. 
     
     
         9 . The polylactide composite of  claim 1  wherein the block copolymer comprises poly(isoprene-b-lactide). 
     
     
         10 . The polylactide composite of  claim 1  wherein the polylactide composite comprises from about 0.1% to about 10% by wt block copolymer. 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing a polylactide composite comprising:
 providing a polymerized natural oil;   adding the polymerized natural oil to a mixture comprising a polylactide and a block copolymer; and   forming a polylactide composite by melt blending such that the polymerized natural oil is dispersed inside the polylactide, wherein the polylactide composite defines a tensile toughness of from about 2 MPa to about 9 MPa.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising modifying the natural oil prior to polymerization. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the polymerization occurs via free radical polymerization using a crosslinking agent, or via thermal polymerization. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the polylactide composite defines a tensile toughness of from about 6 MPa to about 9 MPa. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the polylactide comprises poly(L-lactide), its stereoisomers, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the polylactide composite comprises about 80 to about 95% by wt polylactide, and about 5% to about 15% by wt. of polymerized natural oil. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the polymerized natural oil comprises soybean oil. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the polymerized natural oil is a modified polymerized natural oil.